December 2022 Commencement Ceremony
Date: Friday, December 16
Time(s): 8:00am and 11:00am (see details below)
Location: Maverick Center, Brownson Arena and streaming online
Colorado Mesa University will host two graduation ceremonies on Friday, December 16 based on the student's academic department. The parking lots will open one hour before each ceremony.
Streaming Links: 8:00am Ceremony 11:00am Ceremony
Commencement Times
Each ceremony will host the majors from specific academic departments Graduates are expected to go to the ceremony for their major as posted below.
8:00am ceremony includes graduates from the following academic departments:
Graduates please arrive by 7:15am
- Art & Design
- Biology
- Engineering, Computer Science, Construction Management and CU Engineering
- Languages, Literature and Mass Communication
- Liberal Arts (University and General Studies)
- Math and Statistics
- Music
- Physical and Environmental Sciences
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Teacher Education
- Theatre Arts
- Western Colorado Community College
11:00am ceremony includes graduates from the following academic departments:
Graduates please arrive by 10:15am
- Business
- Health Sciences
- Kinesiology
Parking and Building Maps
Commencement Parking Map Maverick Center Map for Guests
Parking near the Maverick Center is limited. Please refer to the commencement parking map for additional lots and traffic flow. Parking will be available in all Colorado Mesa University parking lots free of charge. Although parking is available on surrounding streets and businesses, please utilize the free parking on campus as a note of appreciation for you and as a courtesy to our neighbors. Local businesses will be open on commencement day and parking in their lots is reserved for normal business traffic.
December 2022 Graduates - Winter Grad Party
Make plans to attend the Winter Grad Party on Dec 6 from 4-6pm in the UC Ballroom.
Cap, Gown, and Name Card Pickup
Stop by the Maverick Store interior entrance next to the UC first floor stage on
- Tuesday, December 6 - 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Wednesday, December 7 - 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Cap and Gown: All online orders placed for in-store pick up will be available.You can also purchase stoles of gratitude, hoods, alumni gear, and more.
- Name Card: The Registrar's Office will have your name card for the ceremony. You will need to bring it with you on commencement day as it is used to read your name as you walk across the stage.
- Academic Honors Cord(if applicable): The Registrar's Office will have honors cords for students who have a CMU 3.50 GPA or higher, earning a baccalaureate or associate degree and will complete all requirements end of the Fall 2022 semester.
More information on Caps, Gowns, Hoods, Stoles and Tassels
- A limited number of caps, gowns, hoods and stoles will available for purchase in-store at The Maverick Store.
- Check out our wide selection of custom stoles to celebrate your exceptional achievement! We have a variety of stoles celebrating specific departments and clubs, First Generation, Pride, Women, CMU, and many more!
- 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.
- Commemorative tassels, alumni mugs and other alumni related gifts are available in store or through the Maverick Store website.
- Orders may be placed for in-store pick-up or delivery.
Diploma Frames
- The Maverick Store stocks a variety of unique diploma frames available in store at The Maverick Store website . To customize your diploma frame visit Church Hill Classics or University Frames.
Questions? Please call The Maverick Store at 970.248.1422 or email [email protected].
Guest Tickets
At this time, guest tickets are not required to attend the ceremony. However, please keep checking this website for the most up-to-date information.
Exit Survey for Graduates
All graduates, regardless of attending the commencement ceremony, should complete the Exiting Graduate Survey. A link will be emailed to you prior to graduation. In addition, laptops will be available to complete the survey at the cap and gown pickup outside the Maverick Bookstore. The survey, which inquires about plans after graduation, should take approximately 5 minutes to complete. The results will help academic departments and the institution better prepare students for life after college.
A professional photographer from MJ Thomas will be at the ceremony. They will be taking two photos of each graduate, one holding the diploma and the other shaking hands with the Dean. Guests may take pictures from their seats.
The week after graduation all graduates will receive a text and/or email with a link to order pictures from Graduation. If you have any questions or concerns please contact MJ Thomas directly at [email protected].
Parking
Parking near the Maverick Center is limited. Please refer to the commencement parking map for additional lots and traffic flow. Parking will be available in all Colorado Mesa University parking lots free of charge. Although parking is available on surrounding streets and businesses, please utilize the free parking on campus as a note of appreciation for you and as a courtesy to our neighbors. Local businesses will be open on commencement day and parking in their lots is reserved for normal business traffic.
Guest Instructions
Guests should arrive at the Maverick Center about 45 minutes before the ceremony at one of the approved guests entrances.
Guests should remain in their seats once the ceremony has started. Photographs should also be taken from your seat. Professional photographers will be taking pictures before and and on the stage.
Once the first ceremony is over, please exit the building to allow for the next venue. Guests and graduates should determine an meeting place outside the Maverick Center prior to commencement day.
Graduate Instructions
- General Instructions for Graduating Students
- Maverick Center Processional Map for Graduates and Faculty
Proceed to the Rec Center Gym and follow the signs to your processional group staging area. CMU staff will start lining up the graduates into two lines in the 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. Your friends should be in front or behind you in line. When the ceremony starts, you will guided into Brownson Arena.
As you get to the row you will be seated in Brownson Arena, your group may be split between two rows.
Use the instructions and processional map for further details on processional line up, seating in Brownson arena, and walking across the stage.
Once the first ceremony is over, please exit the building to allow for the next venue. Guests and graduates should determine an meeting place outside the Maverick Center prior to commencement day.
Caps, Gowns, Hoods, Stoles and Tassels
- A limited number of caps, gowns, hoods and stoles will available for purchase in-store at The Maverick Store.
- Check out our wide selection of custom stoles to celebrate your exceptional achievement! We have a variety of stoles celebrating specific departments and clubs, First Generation, Pride, Women, CMU, and many more!
- 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.
- Commemorative tassels, alumni mugs and other alumni related gifts are available in store or through the Maverick Store website.
- Orders may be placed for in-store pick-up or delivery.
Diploma Frames
- The Maverick Store stocks a variety of unique diploma frames available in store at The Maverick Store website . To customize your diploma frame visit Church Hill Classics or University Frames.
Questions? Please call The Maverick Store at 970.248.1422 or email [email protected].
Students are eligible to participate in a commencement ceremony based on which semester they complete their graduation requirements.
- 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.
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.
The CMU transcript is the official document to verify degree completion. Awarded degrees will show on the official and unofficial transcript. If you need 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 WCCC graduates automatically become members of the Alumni Association. An alumni card and other information about the Alumni Association will be mailed to each graduate within about two months of graduation. In the meantime, graduates are encouraged to register for the MyMesa Alumni Portal and learn more about the services and benefits of the Alumni Association.