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FAQs for Graduates & Guests
For your safety and the safety of others, guests and their possessions are subject to inspection prior to, and as a condition of, admittance. Please have your bags open and available for inspection. Intoxicated patrons may be denied admittance to the Venue. Colorado Convention Center Management reserves the final decision on items which may be brought into the venue.
*Appropriate changes may be made to this list in accordance to the event being held at the facility*
The following items are prohibited:
- Outside food and/or beverages
- Glass bottles
- Weapons (e.g. toys, guns, knives, chains, studded jewelry) or objects that may be considered a weapon
- Drugs and/or alcohol
- Laser pointers or noise makers
- Helium balloons, stickers, adhesive backed decals and chewing gum
- Audio/video recording equipment
- Pets of any kind. Qualified service animals permitted
Smoking of any kind is strictly prohibited (including e-cigarettes).
*In order to provide a safe and comfortable environment, there are policies and procedures in place at the Colorado Convention Center to restrict drugs of all types from entering the venue as well as their use, distribution and sale. However, the following procedures are in place to accommodate patrons requiring the legitimate use of prescription medications while attending an event:
- Patrons should only bring the quantity of medication needed for the duration of the show; please leave excess medication at home or in your vehicle.
- Prescription medication must be in the original prescription container with the patient’s name and dosage listed on the label.
- At entrances, venue medical staff will verify the medication and name on the label match the actual medication and patron’s identification.
- Patrons with more medication than is necessary for the duration of the show will be asked to return the excess medication to their vehicle. In instances where this is not possible, the medication will be stored with medical staff in the first aid room at the South Ramp entrance or disposed.
More information about transportation for the Fall 2026 Commencement will be available here closer to the ceremony date.
There is no limit to the number of guests that a graduate can bring to their ceremony. Guests will not need a ticket for admission. Graduates will receive email communication if these policies change or are updated.
Graduates in need of accommodations required by the Americans With Disabilities Act, or if anyone in the graduate’s party uses a wheelchair or walker, or is hearing- or visually impaired, they can submit a request for accommodations when they submit their RSVP for Commencement. The link to RSVP for Commencement is emailed to each graduating candidate in advance of the ceremony.
Once the graduate has filled out the RSVP form indicating the accommodations needed, the Commencement Team will follow up as the ceremony date approaches with details about accessibility and how their needs can be met at the ceremony.
Due to limited accessibility seating, only confirmed pre-reserved ADA RSVP’s can be accommodated at the ceremony.
The Office of University Events is not responsible for providing mobility aids or wheelchairs for guests of the Commencement ceremony. If you are a student and need mobility accommodations at Commencement, please contact the Commencement team at [email protected].
Grads can make changes to their Stage Pass at any time before Wednesday, November 18. After that date, grads must plan to arrive early to their ceremony and go to the Help Line at Student Check-In to get assistance in making changes to their Stage Pass.
Each eligible grad 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.
Each eligible 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 – Login
Cap, gowns and tassels are exclusively rented through Herff Jones. Custom-designed by Herff-Jones, the MSU Denver gowns feature the University’s insignia and school colors. The gowns are blue with red trim, and the official University seal is embroidered on the lapel. All graduates must wear these at the Commencement ceremony. The primary ordering deadline is Oct. 9 and the secondary ordering deadline is Nov. 13. Please check the Regalia webpage for more information and updates. Graduates can save on shipping costs by ordering before the primary ordering deadline and by selecting the ‘Ship Regalia to Campus’ option. Cap and Gown Pick-Up is on Tuesday, Nov. 17 and Wednesday, Nov. 18. Graduates may also pick up regalia on the day of the ceremony.
Fall 2026 pricing is below.
Bachelor’s Rental Gown – $58
- Includes rental gown as well as a cap and tassel. The cap and tassel are yours to keep.
Master’s Rental Gown and Hood – $91
- Includes rental gown and hood as well as cap and tassel. The cap and tassel are yours to keep.
Additional keepsakes are also available for purchase.
Email reminders about these deadlines are regularly sent to graduation candidates, so they must be sure to check their email.
To learn more about regalia, watch our video here!
Morning Ceremony | 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
College of Aerospace, Computing, Engineering, and Design
College of Business
College of Health and Human Sciences
Afternoon Ceremony | 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Associate of General Studies
College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences
School of Education
School of Hospitality
Individualized Degree Program
No. Graduation Candidates need to arrive at the venue an hour and a half prior to the ceremony to get in line with their fellow graduates. Faculty and Staff Marshals will be in the Graduate Assembly Area to answer questions about the processional and the ceremony.
To learn more about what to expect on Commencement Day, watch our video here!
Students must arrive at least one and a half hours prior to the start of their ceremony.
Arrive at 8:00 a.m. for graduates of the Morning Ceremony.
Arrive at 1:00 p.m. for graduates of the Afternoon Ceremony.
MSU Denver is committed to creating a safe, comfortable and enjoyable experience for all guests that come to campus for an event. We value your enthusiasm and ask that all guests exercise good judgement and observe expected etiquette while at the event. Guests who violate the etiquette expectations may be subject to removal and, to the extent their conduct constitutes a violation of law, may be subject to prosecution. Under no circumstances does any of the MSU Denver event spaces allow demonstrations where the health and/or safety of a person is endangered.
Guests have a right to expect an environment where they will:
- Be treated in a consistent, professional and courteous manner by fellow guests and event personnel.
- Enjoy an event free from disruptive behavior, including foul or abusive language or obscene gestures.
- Be removed if they are disrupting the event
There are photographers at Commencement. ‘The Grad Team’ is the exclusive photo vendor at MSU Denver Commencement ceremonies. Their team provides photos, at a variable cost dependent on package selection to graduates. They seek to capture the special moment as each new grad walks across the stage to receive their diploma. This longtime vendor is utilized by fellow universities, such as CU Denver. To learn more about the offerings of The Grad Team or to retrieve your photos from a recent Commencement ceremony please contact Jamie Fidler directly at [email protected].
In addition, all graduates receive the following information regarding photography participation at Commencement prior to the date of their ceremony via email. The information is also posted at the Commencement venue.
Note: Photographs and video will be taken at the Commencement event. By taking part in this event, you grant Metropolitan State University of Denver full rights to use any images resulting from the photography and/or video filming for any reproductions or adaptations of the images for fundraising, publicity, or other purposes. This may include but is not limited to: television, video, the MSU Denver web site, advertising campaigns including large format assets, social media sites, press releases, etc. If you do not wish to be photographed, or filmed please inform an event organizer or the photographer.
All summer graduates are invited to the Fall semester Commencement ceremonies.
Grads do not receive their diplomas at Commencement, but rather receive a complimentary diploma cover. All degree-earning grads will be mailed their diploma 8-10 weeks after final grades are posted. Diplomas will be shipped to the most current address on file with the Registrar’s office.
Contact the Registrar’s Office at [email protected] with further questions about diplomas and graduation requirements.