Commencement

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

• Commencement Parking Map 

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

• Maverick Center Map for Guests

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

Graduates should arrive at the Rec Center about 45 minutes before the ceremony. Bring your cap, gown, name card,and honor cords (if applicable). 

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.