Commencement

Countdown to Commencement

Ceremony Details

The Fall 2025 Commencement ceremonies will be held on Friday, December 12, 2025 at the Colorado Convention Center (700 14th St, Denver, CO). 

Morning Ceremony | 9:30 a.m.

• College of Aerospace, Computing, Engineering, and Design
• College of Business
• College of Health and Human Sciences

Afternoon Ceremony | 2:30 p.m.

• Associate of General Studies
• College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences
• School of Education
• School of Hospitality

Each ceremony will last approximately two hours. Graduates should arrive 1 hour 30 minutes prior to the start of their ceremony: 8 a.m. for the morning ceremony, and 1 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony. Both ceremonies will be hosted at the Colorado Convention Center located at 700 14th St, Denver, CO 80202. The ceremony will consist of an address from President Davidson, speeches from a keynote and student speaker, and most importantly, your moment to walk across the stage.

The ceremony will be livestreamed to the Commencement homepage for guests who are unable to attend in person. Family and friends are not required to register in advance, and they are not required to have tickets. There is no limit on the number of guests each graduate can bring. Doors will open at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., and seating is first-come, first served.

Colorado Convention Center Information

• To enter, use either door off of 14th Street – look for the big blue bear and welcome signs to make sure you’re in the right spot!
• Follow Commencement signage to Lobby A for Guest Check-in and Lobby F for Grad Check-in.
• All guests and grads will go through a quick security check-in before being admitted.
• ADA Check-In will be in Lobby A with direct elevator access to upstairs, to Hall A.
• Spanish translation devices, bookstore and other merchandise assistance will be located outside of Exhibit Hall A.

Transportation and Parking for Commencement

Although parking in and around downtown Denver and the Convention Center can be challenging, there are numerous options, and planning transportation and parking ahead of time is recommended.

We highly encourage using the drop off/pick up location outside of the Convention Center for any individual(s) in wheelchairs or those who may not be able to walk for periods of time.

Consider the following options for parking and transportation:

• Discounted all-day rate of $8.25 on the Auraria campus. Please be mindful that Maple and Nutmeg lots are expected to fill quickly, as will the Tivoli Parking Garage due to additional traffic on campus from The Denver Christkindlmarket.
  • USE CODE: 3046054
• Public lots, garages and street parking downtown. Pricing varies. 
• Colorado Convention Center Garage (likely to fill quickly). The rate for 8 hours is $13.00.

Those who plan to park on the Auraria campus may choose to enjoy a 15-20 minute walk to the Convention Center, depending on the parking location on campus. Additionally, RTD’s ‘Holiday Train’ is now open, and those interested in this option may board at the ‘Colfax at Auraria Station’ and depart the train at the next stop, the ‘Theatre District/Convention Center’ station. More information and a map of the Holiday Train Route can be found here.

RSVP for Commencement Through Tassel

Every graduate must RSVP to Commencement through the Commencement Team’s ceremony vendor, Tassel. Each eligible graduate should receive an email from [email protected], which will prompt the graduate to RSVP with their preferred name and correct contact information for the big day. Through Tassel, each graduate will also receive a Stage Pass which acts as the name card read on stage at the Commencement ceremony.

Stage Pass Required: Each graduate will need to have their Stage Pass on their phone or printed out on the day of the ceremony in order to have their name read correctly as they walk across the stage.

Graduates can login to Tassel again after they have created an account here: Tassel

RSVP Deadline: The deadline to RSVP and to make any Stage Pass changes is Tuesday, December 2 at 11:55 p.m. MT. If a grad is choosing not to attend the ceremony, they should still RSVP ‘no’. 

Graduation: Please note, RSVP to Commencement is only for ceremony participation. The application to graduate and official degree conferral are handled separately through the Graduation Team in the Registrar’s Office. Each eligible graduate will receive separate communications regarding their degree status from the Graduation Team.

Purchase Regalia

Regalia is the cap and gown that each grad is required to wear during the Commencement ceremony. Regalia must be ordered through Herff Jones.

The primary regalia ordering deadline was: Friday, October 10, 2025, at 9:59 p.m. MT.

The secondary regalia ordering deadline was: Friday, November 14, 2025, at 9:59 p.m. MT.

If a grad misses the deadlines listed above, they could have ordered regalia at Cap and Gown Pick-Up at St. Cajetan’s on December 1 or December 2. If grads still do not have regalia, they may purchase their regalia rental on Commencement Day before their ceremony.

Each graduate is responsible for returning their gown, and master’s hood if applicable, to Herff Jones within 1 week following the ceremony.

Additional regalia information is available on the Regalia webpage. Information about academic honors and applicable cords can be found Academic Honors webpage.