You must wear regalia to participate.
-
Bachelor’s candidates: Wear your cap and gown upon arrival. Start with your red tassel on the right side.
-
Master’s candidates: Wear your cap, gown and hood upon arrival. Start with your tassel on the left.
-
Doctoral candidates: Wear your cap and gown. You will carry your hood with you into the arena and be hooded on stage.
Multiple on-campus parking lots will be free to the public on graduation ceremony days and there will be free shuttle drop-off services. View full parking information →
- Parking for Guests Requiring ADA Accessibility: Guests who need ADA Accessible parking may park in lots 440 West (closest to the CU Events Center), 204, 346, 359, 360 and 380.
-
A disability parking placard is not required to park in lots 204, 380 and 440 West.
-
A disability parking placard is required to park in lots 346, 359 and 360.
Clear bag requirements: To support security measures, CU Events Center has limitations on bags and items that may be brought. With the exception of medical bags, all other bags must fall under certain requirements.
-
View a list of permitted and prohibited bags and other items →
-
Note: There will not be storage spaces for graduates and their guests to keep items during the ceremony. Graduates are responsible for carrying any personal items they bring and all belongings are also subject to the clear bag policy.
Security: Also, all graduates and guests are subject to security screenings, which may include walk-through metal detectors, electronic wanding and inspection of bags or other personal items.
Family and guests will follow signage to enter through the front doors of the CU Events Center.
-
Graduation programs will be distributed throughout the CU Events Center Concourse as you enter through the doors.
-
Family and friends should be seated by 8:45 a.m. All family and friends are allowed to sit anywhere that is not marked reserved, ADA/Disability, or graduate seating. All seats are first come, first serve. The earlier they arrive, the better seats they can secure!
-
Guests requiring accommodations at a recognition ceremony event, such as wheelchair seating, interpreters, assisted listening devices, etc., should contact the ADA Compliance office at (303) 492-9725 or via email ASAP so that the appropriate arrangements can be made.
-
CU Events Center Concessions will be open for guests to purchase snacks and drinks.
-
Flowers are available for purchase on the upper level of the concourse behind sections 7 and 8 and sections 23 and 24.
Graduates have a separate entrance in order to sign in and line up.
Please follow signage to the north loading dock entrance of the CU Events Center and enter the double doors to the far right.
-
Once you arrive at 8 a.m.,
-
If you RSVP'd, thank you! Pick up your printed registration card at the table that corresponds with your last name. You will later hand the card to the person announcing your name as you reach the stage.
-
If you missed the deadline to RSVP, please arrive promptly to allow for time to check in.
-
Our staff will direct you to line up by your degree program at 8:30 a.m. In the meantime, hydrate and take a break if you need to.
-
Note: There will not be storage spaces for graduates to keep items during the ceremony. Graduates are responsible for carrying any personal items they bring and all belongings are subject to the clear bag policy. Students will not return to the lower gym after the ceremony, please take all items with you.
Stage Right
- Strategic Communication
(Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design)
Stage Left
- All Graduate Degrees
- Department of Communication
- Department of Information Science
- Department of Journalism
- Media Production
(Department of Critical Media Practices)
- Department of Media Studies
Following the ceremony, graduates will exit through main doors.
Our professional photographer with GradImages will take pictures of all graduates as they are presented with a diploma cover.
GradImages will distribute contact cards to each student to fill out with their name, address and email. They will use this information to contact you after the ceremony to view and purchase your pictures.
Our reception will immediately follow at the large event tent on the Business Field!
All graduates and their families/guests are invited. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, please visit the CU Commencement website.
