Commencement FAQ's

No, you do not have to participate. Commencement is an optional activity to celebrate the completion of your degree and is intended to be an for graduates to cross the stage to symbolize the completion of their degree.

Pre-registration for the ceremony is required for participation. Registration ends at 10pm MST on November 1, 2021.

Yes! To start initially, a maximum of 2 guests per graduate will be permitted to accompany the graduate at the in-person ceremony. The university will revisit this decision in early November.

The event will also be livestreamed and recorded for loved ones to watch if they can't attend in person and we will have professional photographers on site to capture the moment.

Bringing extra guests to the event could result in the graduate being denied to participate in the ceremony or cancellation of the event.

To start initially, a maximum of 2 guests per graduate will be permitted to accompany the graduate at the in-person ceremony. The university will revisit this decision in early November. This decision was made to allow graduates and their loved ones to start to make plans. We hope to make every effort to preserve an in-person event to celebrate our graduates. If the outlook of the pandemic continues to improve and additional guests can be added, we will.

The event will also be livestreamed and recorded for loved ones to watch if they can't attend in person and we will have professional photographers on site to capture the moment.

Yes. University safety protocols will be enforced during the event. Participating in the commencement ceremony will require all graduates to:

• Wear a face covering at all times. You can remove it briefly for your photos on stage, but you must immediately put it back on after.
• Not bring more than two (2) guests to the event in order to abide by capacity requirements.
• Attest truthfully, to the best of your knowledge, to not presenting symptoms, not being diagnosed (or not having a positive COVID-19 test result within the past 14 days), and not being exposed to COVID-19 in order to be admitted to the event.

All 2020 graduates and spring 2021 graduates can sign up for the fall 2021 commencement ceremony. Graduates must email commencement@ucdenver.edu to gain access to registration.  All graduates must register by November 1 at 10pm MST.

Please note that graduate names are printed in the commencement program only in the semester for which you have been approved to graduate.​

To ensure that all students are wearing the proper regalia and that it is consistent with the university's quality standards, all graduates are required to rent caps and gowns through Herff Jones, our official vendor.  All CU Denver Graduates wear regalia featuring CU colors.

Registering for commencement is a two-step process. Graduates are only considered registered to participate if they complete the registration in Marching Order AND rent their cap and gown through Herff Jones.

Honor cords are only presented to undergraduate students.

​To obtain honor cords to be worn with your gown, contact an advisor with your school or college prior to the commencement ceremony.

Yes. Doctoral graduates will have the opportunity to cross the stage with their faculty advisor and be hooded. If you do not feel comfortable being hooded, you can wear your hood to the event. If your faculty advisor will not be in attendance, we will have someone available to hood you at the event.

Indi​vidual student organizations and departments coordinate orders and distribution of participation and recognition cords. Please contact the individual office or organization for information about cord distribution for this semester.

If you are part of a student organization and would like to propose a new cord or stole to order, please submit your request to the Commencement Office at commencement@ucdenver.edu​.  All requests for new cords and stoles must be approved before ordering.

​Yes! The cap is yours to keep and we encourage students to express their creativity. Be sure to use #CUDenverGrad so we can see what you create!​

Cap and gown rentals are available to rent through Herff Jones.

Rentals prices vary by degree level and include tax:

Bachelors: $45

Masters: $60

Doctorate: $80

 

Yes.  To ensure that all students are wearing the proper regalia and that it is consistent with the university's quality standards, all graduates are required to rent caps and gowns through Herff Jones, our official vendor.  All CU Denver Graduates wear regalia featuring CU colors.

If you are only participating in the virtual recognition website and do not intend to participate in the ceremony, you can elect to rent your regalia from another source.

Cancellations received by the close of cap and gown registration will receive a full refund. After this date the commencement fees cannot be refunded.  If you chose to ship your regalia to you, it can be returned for a refund in the return envelope.  You will only receive a full refund if the gown was unopened

You will only receive a full refund if the gown was unopened. As such, we recommend only ordering regalia if you intend to use it for personal photos. Please reach out to Herff Jones customer service for the refund process. 

Yes, you can still participate and your name will be read, but you will be charged late fees.

You will need to go to cap and gown pick-up (Wednesday, December 8, 10am to 7pm or Thursday, December 9, 10am-5pm in St. Cajetan's on the Auraria Campus) to rent your cap and gown and pay the commencement fees.

Please note that all on-site payments must be made in cash and will include a $25 late fee in addition to the standard commencement fees. The on-site fees are listed on the commencement homepage.

​Contact Alex Frieler at Herff Jones frieleraj@uniquerecognition.com​ to ask about buying regalia.

Graduates must contact the commencement coordinator about accessibility arrangements for the event, please email commencement@ucdenver.edu. 

There are ramps leading to the stage on both sides to accommodate wheelchairs and anyone who is unable to negotiate stairs. Service animals ​(not emotional support animals) are permitted at the event and must be pre-communicated to the commencement coordinator for planning purposes. 

As a courtesy, the Commencement Office will draft a letter of invitation to friends and family abroad to include in a visa application packet. Requests should be sent to commencement@ucdenver.edu and must contain the following information:

1. Your name
2. Degree to be earned

Fall graduates need to apply to graduate through their student portal for advisors to review the completion of their degree requirements. Approved graduates will receive communications about commencement. Please review our Ceremony Details page for further information.

If you choose to participate in the virtual recognition website alone, you will be ready for commencement once you've registered by submitting a photo and/or expression of gratitude to Marching Order.

If you choose to participate in the in-person ceremony, you will be ready for commencement once you've registered for the ceremony in Marching Order AND have registered with Herff Jones for a cap and gown rental.

Parking is available in surrounding lots as well as in the Convention Center garage for $12 for up to 8 hours. Free parking is available on the Auraria Campus in the Holly lot. Alternatively, Light Rail drops off and picks up at the Colorado Convention Center on Stout Street.

Designated disability-related parking is available in the Colorado Convention Center parking garage. A valid state-issued ADA placard or license plate is required. All disability-related parking is first-come, first-served.

If dangerous conditions are in the forecast, the commencement ceremony might be delayed. Check the commencement homepage for details and communication on the day of the event.

A virtual ceremony, provides a safe, virtual format for those students who do not feel comfortable attending or cannot travel to an in-person event. The commencement ceremony provides an opportunity for students who want to cross a stage and have their photo taken, which cannot be replicated in a virtual environment. Providing a virtual ceremony maintains safe and equitable access for all to celebrate this milestone.

Graduates can elect to participate in both opportunities, one, or none.

Yes! CU Denver has a long-standing policy that allows graduates from previous years to participate in any commencement, as long as degree requirements have been completed. Updates regarding future ceremonies will be posted on the commencement homepage each semester (typically in October for fall and March for spring).

No, you do not have to participate. Commencement is an optional activity to celebrate the completion of your degree.

​To obtain honor cords to be worn with your gown, contact an advisor with your school or college prior to the commencement ceremony. Honor cords are only presented to undergraduate students.

Graduates do not have to rent regalia to participate in virtual commencement. Regalia is available to rent for your personal photos. The cap and tassel are yours to keep, but the gown and hood (if applicable) must be returned using the included shipping label.

​Yes! The cap is yours to keep and we encourage students to express their creativity. Be sure to use #CUDenverGrad so we can see what you create!​

All diplomas are mailed to graduates approximately two months after the end of the semester. Diploma addresses can be updated via the student portal.

If you are only participating in the virtual recognition event, no. Virtual graduates are not required to rent caps and gowns through Herff Jones, our official vendor. However, Herff Jones regalia is customized for the university and features CU colors.

You will only receive a full refund if the gown was unopened. As such, we recommend only ordering regalia if you intend to use it for personal photos. Please reach out to Herff Jones customer service for the refund process. 

Souvenir CU-colored tassels are available for purchase through the Herff Jones order site.

Degree-colored tassels are only available when renting the full cap and gown set.

Indi​vidual student organizations and departments coordinate orders and distribution of participation and recognition cords. Please contact the individual office or organization for information about cord distribution for this semester.

If you are part of a student organization and would like to propose a new cord or stole to order, please submit your request to the Commencement Office at commencement@ucdenver.edu​.  All requests for new cords and stoles must be approved before ordering.

Yes, regalia can be rented or purchased from our vendor, Herff Jones. Orders can be placed through June 1.

Herff Jones also provides options to purchase souvenir tassels, diploma frames, class rings, and more.

Graduates can purchase souvenir tassels, announcements, stoles of gratitude, class rings, diploma frames and more through the Herff Jones website without registering to participate in the ceremony.

Yes. Please log in to the Marching Order site to resubmit your photo. You can resubmit your photo as many times as you'd like up until the deadline at 10pm MST on November 1.

Before you are eligible to register for commencement, you need to apply to graduate through your UCD Access Portal so your academic advisor can confirm your eligibility/degree requirement completion. If you missed the deadline to apply to graduate, please reach out to your advisor to be added to the list.

Upon confirmation, you will be approved to register for graduation. Registration for the virtual recognition is open until 10pm MST on November 1. To confirm your participation in the virtual recognition, you need to register through Marching Order.

 

Yes! To start initially, registered graduates can request a maximum of 2 guests tickets. Graduates must take action to reserve their tickets by registering for the ceremony and claiming their tickets. Seating is available on a first-come, first served basis

The event will also be livestreamed and recorded for loved ones to watch if they can't attend in person and we will have professional photographers on site to capture the moment.

Bringing extra guests to the event could result in the graduate being denied to participate in the ceremony or cancellation of the event.

 

Masks will be required of all attendees at all times. COVID-19 vaccines are highly encouraged, but are not required for attendance at this time.

CU Denver partners with Herff Jones to provide graduation products (announcements, rings, frames, etc.) with the approved commencement dates, designs, and branding. However, you may elect to purchase announcements or memorabilia from any provider. 

Caps and gowns are available to rent through Herff Jones for your personal photos. Caps and tassels are yours to keep, however gowns and hoods must be returned following the ceremony using the included shipping label.

For the ceremony, GradImages will be on site to capture photos of your graduate. Photo proofs will be emailed to your graduate for review within 5 business days.

If you would like to pre-register for photographs and receive a discount on photo purchases, please visit www.gradimages.com/Preregistration.

Please note, in order to maintain the graduate safety and the ceremony timing, professional photographers who are not part of the Grad Images team will not be allowed in the graduate seating or on the stage. Families are encouraged to utilize the Grad Images team and not hire separate photographers.

Graduates will be emailed detailed instructions on how to view the ceremony a week in advance. The instructions will also be posted on the commencement homepage. The ceremony video will premiere at 10:00 am on Saturday, May 15. The video will premiere live, but can be re-watched anytime thereafter.

 

Graduates will be emailed detailed ceremony check-in instructions a week in advance, which will include viewing details. The instructions will also be posted on the commencement homepage. The ceremony will be streamed live, but can be re-watched anytime thereafter.

 

Wheelchairs and scooters are available for rent with advance reservations from the UPS Business Center in the Colorado Convention Center. Visit http://denverconvention.com/attend-an-event/ups-business-center/ for more information.

Please visit the Disability-Related Access page for more information for students and their guests.

Parking is available in surrounding lots as well as in the Convention Center garage for $12 for up to 8 hours. Free parking is available on the Auraria Campus in the Holly lot. Alternatively, Light Rail drops off and picks up at the Colorado Convention Center on Stout Street

For those guests who require disability-related accommodations (i.e. hearing-impaired, in a wheelchair), tickets are issued on a first-come, first served basis for a designated seating section. Please visit the Disability-Related Access page for more information. These tickets are part of the two tickets a registered graduate can request for the ceremony.

The fall ceremony is typically 2 hours. In consideration of the audience and the significance of this event, all guests and graduates must remain seated for the entire ceremony.

The following items are prohibited at the Colorado Convention Center: alcohol, illegal drugs, bottles, cans, coolers, fireworks, helium balloons, aerosol cans, and defensive weapons. Artificial noise makers (such as blowhorns or megaphones) are discouraged so every graduate name can be heard. Please be mindful of large signs and banners so as not to obstruct the view of others.