Spring Graduation
The Spring 2026 International Affairs Program recognition graduation ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 2th, 2026 at 1:00pm MDT in the Limelight Hotel Ballroom.
The IAFS Program ceremony is approximately one hour long and is a regalia (cap & gown) event to celebrate graduates of fall 2025, spring 2026, and summer 2026. A one-hour open house style reception with light food and beverages will follow the ceremony at 2:00pm MDT.
Family and friends are welcome to attend our ceremony and reception, no tickets or reservations required although we do request graduates RSVP so we can plan for seats and food.
Email communications regarding our graduation ceremony are sent to students' colorado.edu email accounts and is the responsibility of the student to inform and/or share with their families and friends. Specific instructions for the graduates about what to do when they arrive and other details will be emailed to graduates two weeks prior to graduation.
Information regarding the campus-wide Spring Commencement ceremony can be found here.
Important Information for Graduates
- Apply for Graduation by April 1 to have your name in the all-campus and IAFS Commencement Programs.
- Please complete the RSVP form. You must be logged into your CU account to RSVP and will only be allowed to RSVP once. While an RSVP not required to attend, it helps us reserve enough seats for our graduates and plan for enough food for the reception.
- It is very important that all graduates review the Graduation Student Checklist and be aware of Graduation Deadlines!
Frequently Asked Questions
IAFS Majors and IAFS Minors who graduated in Fall 2025 or are graduating in Spring 2026 or Summer 2026 are invited to attend the IAFS Recognition Ceremony!
We ask that you RSVP for yourself and guests so we can plan appropriately for seating and food.
Yes! Family and friends are welcome to attend both the ceremony and reception. We do not limit how many guests attend, but we do ask that graduates include them in the count when they RSVP.
No, tickets are not required to attend.
Guest seating begins at 12:30 p.m. Please do not enter the ballroom earlier, as early entry delays ceremony set-up.
Graduates should plan to arrive by 12:45 p.m., but will not sit with their guests. Graduates will wait outside the ballroom until 1:00 p.m., at which time they will process into the ballroom. Detailed instructions will be provided!
Graduates are strongly encouraged to wear regalia (cap and gown). Regalia can be purchased from the CU Book Store, either in-store or online.
Information about tassels, cords, stoles, and honors medals is available on the CU Academic Dress website.
Latin Honors medals are awarded at the A&S Honors Convocation. Contact the Honors Program directly with any questions.
The IAFS Program does not provide additional academic dress items for majors, minors, or certificates (with the exception of PACS).
Yes. Grad Images will be taking photos of graduates before and during the ceremony. More information will be shared closer to the event.
Information on free on-campus parking is available on the Commencement Arrival & Parking Information page.
Diploma covers will be distributed at the IAFS ceremony. Official diplomas are mailed to the graduate’s permanent address after graduation.
More information is available on the Registrar's Graduation & Diploma FAQs.
All graduates who have applied to graduate by April 1 will be listed in the printed program even if they are unable to attend the ceremony. Copies of the program will be available at the IAFS office after graduation, please email IAFS@colorado.edu for details.
Diploma covers may be picked up from the Registrar’s Office after graduation. Please contact the Registrar's Office for more information.
Unfortunately, the IAFS commencement ceremony will not be livestreamed or recorded.
The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to providing equal access to individuals with disabilities. Attendees who require accommodations should contact IAFS@colorado.edu no later than 14 business days before the event. Requests submitted after the deadline will be considered as capacity allows.
Still have questions or concerns? Please email IAFS@colorado.edu!
