Commencement

Students are eligible to participate in a commencement ceremony based on which semester they complete their graduation requirements in the academic year.

• Summer Term* - December Commencement
• Fall Term - December or May Commencement
• Spring Term - May Commencement 

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they are enrolled in the necessary courses or have a plan on file with the Registrar’s Office using the “Graduation Planning Sheet” or DegreeWorks Plan which outlines how all requirements will be met. In the four months prior to the ceremony, students must be on track to complete all requirements to remain eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony.

*Summer graduates may participate in the preceding May ceremony only if they are registered by April 15 for one or more summer courses that do not exceed six credits or an internship course that does not exceed 12 credits. The student must be able to finish the summer coursework by the end of the summer term.

Parking 

• Parking and Traffic Flow Map

Guests and ceremony participants are strongly encouraged to park in the Lincoln Park main lot. Car pooling is encouraged. See the Parking and Traffic Flow Map for parking lot and pedestrian entrances. Note that the 12th Street parking lot entrance only allows right-turn entrance and exit. Parking will also be available in all Colorado Mesa University parking lots free of charge.

Guests and graduates of the first ceremony should exit the stadium and parking lots promptly after the ceremony to avoid congestion of those arriving for the second ceremony. 

Parking will also be available in all Colorado Mesa University parking lots free of charge.

Guest Instructions

• Stocker Stadium Seating Map

There are no tickets required for entrance and no limit to the number of guests allowed. Guests should arrive about 45 minutes before the ceremony. Guests can enter the stadium through the main entrance from the Lincoln Park main lot or enter through the 12th street entrance. The North Avenue stadium entrance will be closed. Arriving at this entrance will require you to walk around to the other entrances. 

Bring weather appropriate gear such as sunscreen, jacket, boots, hats, gloves, poncho, umbrella, etc.

Seating is on either side of the Stocker Stadium. Limited seating is available on the north side of the field behind the roped off area for the graduates. Guests are not allowed in any of the reserved areas. ADA seating is limited to the ADA guest plus one and is available on a first come, first serve basis.

Guests should remain in their seats once the ceremony has started. Photographs may be taken from your seat. Professional photographers will be taking pictures of your graduate before they cross the stage and as they shake hands with the President.

Once the first ceremony is over, please exit the stadium promptly to avoid congestion of those arriving for the second ceremony. 

Graduate Instructions

• General Instructions for Graduating Students
• Processional Map for Graduating Students and Faculty

Graduates should arrive at Stocker Stadium about 45 minutes before the ceremony. Bring your cap, gown, name card, and honor cords (if applicable). Your tassel should hang on the right side of the mortarboard. Bring weather appropriate gear such as sunscreen, jacket, boots, hats, gloves, poncho, umbrella, etc.

Proceed to the pre-ceremony staging area below the north side of the Suplizio Field baseball stands. Graduates should check their name card for processional group A, B, or C, and sit in the assigned section of the baseball stands. For those that didn't pick up their name card beforehand, it can be picked up at a table in the same area. CMU staff will start lining up the graduates into two lines about 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. When the ceremony starts, graduates will be guided into the stadium to be seated. Use the instructions and processional map for further details on processional line up, seating at Stocker Stadium, and walking across the stage.

Once the first ceremony is over, please exit the stadium to allow for the next ceremony. It is recommended that guests and graduates determine a meeting place at a different location prior to commencement day.

Walking across the stage

When it is time to walk across the stage, the commencement marshals will instruct your row to proceed to the stage. Stay in your same seating order as you wait to go to the stage.

Photographers will scan your barcode before the stage and take a photo.

As you arrive on stage, hand your name card to the announcer. You may whisper your name to the announcer to ensure it is pronounced correctly if you wish. Walk to the President, reach out and hold the diploma cover up with your left hand and shake the President's hand with your right hand, look at the camera and smile for the professional photographer.

After exiting the stage, proceed back to your seat.

Students graduating with their Master or Doctorate Degree will be hooded during the graduation ceremony. Please do not wear your hood into the ceremony - carry it in your hands or over your arm. Once your name is announced please walk across the stage to your Program Representative and hand your hood to them. Program representatives will hood students before receiving their diploma cover from the President. A third photo will be taken of Master's and Doctorate students after exiting the stage with their hoods on. 

Turning of the Tassel

The 4.0 baccalaureate students and the departmental honors students will be directed by the speaker to come forward, stand in front of the stage facing their fellow graduates, and lead the turning of the tassels from right side of the mortarboard to left. 

End of the ceremony

Remain at your seat until the commencement speaker has closed the ceremony. There is no recessional. Feel free to congratulate your fellow graduates. At that time, if you have family and friends who want to meet you, we recommend you have a pre-arranged meeting place. For those attending the first ceremony, please make post-ceremony arrangements to leave the parking lot promptly to avoid traffic congestion with those arriving for the second ceremony.

Caps, Gowns, Hoods, Stoles and Tassels

• You may stop by The Maverick Store any day prior to commencement to pick up or purchase a cap, gown, and tassel.
• The Maverick Store has a wide selection of custom stoles to celebrate your exceptional achievement! Examples include stoles celebrating specific departments and clubs, First Generation, Pride, Women, CMU, and many more!
• Commemorative tassels, alumni mugs and other alumni related gifts are also available in-store or through the Maverick Store website.
• The week prior to commencement, a limited number of caps, gowns, hoods and stoles will available for purchase in-store at The Maverick Store.
• The Maverick Store will also have items available for purchase the day of commencement one hour prior to each ceremony just inside the front main entrance of the Maverick Center at the Game Day Store location.

Diploma Frames

• The Maverick Store stocks a variety of unique diploma frames available in store or at The Maverick Store website . To customize your diploma frame, visit Church Hill Classics or University Frames website.

Questions? Please call The Maverick Store at 970.248.1422 or email [email protected]

Name cards are used to announce the graduates name as they cross the stage during the ceremony. The Registrar's Office will print your name card with the name provided on the Intent to Graduate under Diploma Name.

Name cards will list the ceremony time and processional group that the graduating student will be in. It will also have a bar code to be used by the professional photographers so photos can be made available quickly to each graduate. 

Name Card Pick-up

Date and time:

• Wednesday, May 8    8:30am - 4:30pm
• Thursday, May 9    10:00am - 2:00pm

If you were unable to pick up your name card on the above day(s) you may stop by the Registrar's Office prior to commencement day from 8am - 5pm. You also have the option to pick it up on the day of the ceremony at a table located in the staging area as you arrive to assemble with your processional group.

Honors cords will be given automatically to eligible students by the Registrar's Office when they pick up their name cards. To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:

• Earning a bachelor's degree, associate degree, professional certificate, or technical certificate
• For baccalaureate and associate degrees: have a cumulative Colorado Mesa University GPA of 3.50 or higher as of the end of the previous term 
• For Professional and Technical Certificates: have a Colorado Mesa University GPA of 3.50 or higher for coursework within the professional and technical certificate being earned as of the end of the previous term

A professional photography team from MJ Thomas Photography will be at the ceremony. They will be taking two photos of each graduate, one holding the diploma cover and the other shaking hands with the President. Click the link or scan QRcode to "Sign Up To View Your Graduation Photos". You will receive a link to view and purchase photos 3-5 days after graduation. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact MJ Thomas Photography directly at [email protected]. Guests may take photos from their seats. 

After grades post at the end of each term, the Registrar's Office reviews the DegreeWorks reports for all students who submitted an Intent to Graduate. Please be patient as it takes up to six weeks to review all graduates and change the Graduation Application Status in DegreeWorks to either awarded or denied. Students may review their own DegreeWorks report to check if all requirements were met.

To graduate with Honors or Distinction, the student’s cumulative grade point average will be used in the determination of inclusion in the Honors/Distinction categories listed below. Final academic honors are printed on your official transcript and diploma. 

• With Distinction—Associate degree graduates with cumulative grade point averages of 3.50 to 3.74.
• With High Distinction—Associate degree graduates with cumulative grade point averages of 3.75 to 4.00.

• Cum Laude—Baccalaureate degree graduates with cumulative grade point averages of 3.50 to 3.74.
• Magna Cum Laude—Baccalaureate degree graduates with cumulative grade point averages of 3.75 to 3.89.
• Summa Cum Laude—Baccalaureate degree graduates with cumulative grade point averages of 3.90 to 4.00.

The CMU transcript is the official document to verify degree completion. Awarded degrees will show on the official and unofficial transcript. Academic honors and departmental honors are printed on transcripts, if earned. If you need to order a copy of your official transcript prior to the degree award, please be sure to check "Hold for Degree Statement."

CMU issues one diploma per degree approximately eight weeks after the degree is awarded.  Additional copies may be purchased online through the Duplicate Diploma Request.

CMU and CMU Tech graduates automatically become members of the Alumni Association.  Visit supportingcmu.org/alumni to order your official alumni card and learn about alumni benefits and resources, register or volunteer for events, discover progressional networking resources, give back to the university, and much more!