Regalia & Memorabilia

Students can participate in commencement only after completing all degree requirements and applying to graduate. Questions about this policy should be directed to student advisors. Summer graduates are invited to participate in the fall or the spring ceremony that follows their degree completion.

Exceptions to this policy are limited. For information about the process for requesting an exception, please contact your advisor.

Please note that graduate names are noted in the commencement program only in the semester for which they have been approved to graduate.

No, you do not have to attend. Commencement is an optional activity to celebrate the completion of your degree. A fee is charged to those students who do participate to help offset the costs of producing the ceremony.

Yes! We encourage students to express their creativity. Be sure to use #CUDenverGrad on social media, so we can see what you create!

Graduates do not receive their diplomas at the ceremony. All diplomas are mailed to graduates approximately six to eight weeks after the end of the semester. Diploma addresses can be updated via the student portal.

Diploma covers are available for pick up year-round by visiting the front desk at Lynx Central in the Student Commons Building.

Diploma covers will not be mailed to graduates.

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 custom regalia featuring CU colors.

Yes, if you need someone else to pick up your regalia on your behalf, please email them a copy of your registration confirmation, and they can show that to the regalia provider at pick up.

Graduates can pick up honor cords at the cap and gown pickup event or their school/college check-in table prior to the commencement ceremony. Honor cords are only presented to undergraduate students.

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 have your regalia shipped 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. Contact Alex Frieler at Herff Jones for additional inquiries. 

Contact Alex Frieler at Herff Jones ([email protected]) to inquire about buying regalia. 

Graduates can purchase souvenir tassels, class rings, announcements, and more through the cap and gown registration website without registering to participate in the ceremony. Contact Alex Frieler at Herff Jones ([email protected]) to inquire about buying regalia.

Please contact your organization or the affiliated department to inquire about cords and stoles.

Information on legacy and philanthropy cords can be found on the CU Denver Alumni page. Honor cords, first generation and displaced Aurarian stoles can be picked up at Cap & Gown Pick up.

New cord or stole programs must be approved by the Commencement Office. Please submit your request to the Commencement Office at [email protected]. All requests for new cords and stoles must be approved before ordering. 

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. Students are required to use Herff Jones for their cap and gown rental.

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 to rent your cap and gown and pay the commencement fees. Please note that all on-site payments will include a $30 late fee, in addition to standard commencement fees.

All graduates get to keep their caps and tassels! After the recessional, please return your gown and hood to the Herff Jones bins in the student area (Hall F). Bachelor's degree recipients return their gowns. Master's and Doctoral degree recipients return the gown and hood.