FAQs

No. Graduation Candidates need to arrive at the venue one hour prior to the ceremony to get in line with their fellow graduates.  Faculty Marshals will be in the Graduate Assembly Area to answer questions about the processional and the ceremony.

Denver Coliseum

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. Coliseum 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 for concertgoers, there are policies and procedures in place at the Denver Coliseum 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. 

Currently, there is no limit on the number of guests you can bring to your ceremony. Guests do not have to have a ticket for admission. Please check your email regularly for updates.

If you are a student and need accommodations required by the Americans With Disabilities Act or if anyone in your party uses a wheelchair or walker or is hearing- or visually impaired, you can submit your request for accommodations when you submit your RSVP for commencement.

Once you have filled out the RSVP form indicating the accommodations needed, the commencement team will follow up as we get closer to the date of the ceremony with details about accessibility and how we can meet your needs at the ceremony.

Due to limited accessibility seating we can allow up to four seats total per graduate to be reserved for their guests.

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 graduating seniors must wear these at the commencement ceremony. The ordering deadline is Oct. 20 at 9:59 p.m. MST.  Additional cap and gowns have been ordered and will be available for you to pick up at the Cap and Gown Pick-Up on Tuesday, Nov. 28 and Wednesday, Nov. 29, or the day of the ceremony.

You also have the option of ordering your regalia via home ship, meaning your order will be shipped directly to you. Please account for shipping costs for the home ship option.

Pricing

• Undergraduate – $55
• Master graduate – $85

*If home ship is the option you select, please account for the shipping charge of $18.10.

Additional Keepsakes Available for Purchase

• Stole of Gratitude – $38.00
• MSU Denver Red/Blue Souvenir Tassel – $16.00 (Part of your rental includes your college’s or school’s designated tassel. This is an additional commemorative tassel available for purchase.)

We send email reminders regularly to graduation candidates – so please be sure to check your email.

There is one lot surrounding the Denver Coliseum where you must pay for parking.

We recommend that all students arrive at least 90 minutes prior to the start of their ceremony.

Morning Ceremony

9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

College of Business

College of Health and Human Sciences 

College of Aerospace, Computing, Engineering and Design 

Afternoon Ceremony

2:30 – 4:30 p.m.

College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

School of Education

School of Hospitality

Please find your department within the colleges and schools.

All summer graduates are invited to the Fall semester commencement ceremonies.