Spring Commencement
Celebrate With Pomp & Circumstance
The university commencement ceremony is the premier event to recognize your accomplishments. This annual tradition officially marks every Buff’s passage into the company of scholars. Whether you’re graduating in the fall, spring or summer semester, you're encouraged to participate in the commencement ceremony. This is your moment—enjoy yourself and soak it all in.
Commencement Ceremony Highlights
The ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m. MDT Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Folsom Field stadium. No tickets or registration are required for guests of the graduating students. Livestream links with captions in English and Spanish will be available on the homepage the morning of the commencement ceremony.
The ceremony will last approximately 90 minutes. Highlights include:
- Processional
- Reading of the CU Boulder Land Acknowledgement
- Remarks by Chancellor Justin Schwartz
- Congratulatory message from CU President Todd Saliman
- Commencement address by Emma Coburn
- Senior Class Council address
- Senior class celebratory video
- Acknowledgment of Chancellor’s Recognition Awards and Outstanding Graduates
- Conferral of degrees by college and school
- Welcome to the Forever Buffs family
- Reading of the Norlin Charge by a University of Colorado regent
- Performance of the alma mater
Chancellor’s Recognition Award
At the commencement ceremony, the chancellor will recognize recipients of the Chancellor's Recognition Award, which honors undergraduate students who have earned a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout their coursework. A minimum of 90 credits must be earned or in progress from CU Boulder to qualify. The university will notify the award recipients in April.
Outstanding Graduates
Every semester, faculty or staff nominate an outstanding undergraduate student in each college or school based on academic merit and a record of service or leadership. These students will receive special recognition during the commencement ceremony and in the commencement program.
Recognition Ceremonies
Many colleges, schools, departments and programs hold individual recognition ceremonies. At these events, you may have your name called as you cross the stage. Start planning how you want to mark the occasion.