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 ceremony or the spring ceremonies 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 you have been approved to graduate.

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

Students who select the on-campus pick-up option during registration will pick up their rental items at St. Cajetan’s on the Auraria Campus on either Wednesday, May 1, between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. or Thursday, May 2, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Early pick up is not available. A photo ID is required for pick up. You can arrange for someone else (a family member, friend, colleague, etc.) to pick up your regalia package, but they must bring a copy of your confirmation email to handle to pick up.

During registration, graduates have the option to pay to ship their gowns to their homes in order to receive them before the on-campus pick-up date.

Once orders are placed, graduates cannot change their delivery preference. 

If you missed early cap and gown pick up, you can pick up your regalia on Saturday, at the Denver Coliseum, before the start of the ceremonies. When you arrive at the Denver Coliseum, the regalia table will be on the lower level in the graduate staging area.  

Yes! We encourage students to express their creativity. Be sure to use #CUDenverGrad on social media, so we can see what you create! There will also be a cap decorating contest, so keep an eye out on our CU Denver Instagram account for more information.

Graduates do not receive their diplomas at commencement but do receive a diploma cover as they cross the stage. All diplomas are mailed to graduates about six to eight weeks after the semester ends from the Registrar’s Office. Diploma addresses can be updated via the student portal.

For anyone who is unable to attend commencement in person, diploma covers are available for pick up year-round by visiting the front desk at Lynx Central or emailing commencement@ucdenver.edu. 

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. 

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. 

To obtain honor cords to be worn with your gown, you will go to cap and gown pick up to find the honor cord table. If you elected for home-ship, you still need to pick up your honor cord in person at St. Cajetan’s on May 1 or 2 or at your school/college check-in table the morning of the 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 choose 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 (ajfrieler@herffjones.com) to inquire about buying regalia. 

Graduates can purchase souvenir tassels, class rings, announcements, and more through the registration website without registering to participate in commencement. Instructions for receiving your items will be provided. 

Individual student organizations and departments coordinate orders and distribution of participation and recognition cords and stoles. Please contact your organization or the affiliated department to inquire about cords and stoles.

New cord or stole programs must be approved by the Commencement Office. Please submit your request to the Commencement Office at commencement@ucdenver.edu. 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 (at St. Cajetan’s on May 1 or 2) to rent your cap and gown and pay the commencement fees. Please note that all on-site payments will include a $50 late fee, in addition to standard commencement fees. 

Regalia rental fees are covered by the commencement budget. Please register for the ceremony by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 29 to confirm your attendance, even if regalia rental is not needed.

Please note: Register by Friday, April 26 to guarantee your hood is in your alma mater colors. Orders received after this date may receive a CU hood instead of your alma mater colors.

And any rented regalia will be available in the faculty breakfast/robing area at the Denver Coliseum prior to the ceremony you selected to attend.