Spring 2024 Ceremony Details
Friday, May 10, 2024 | Denver Coliseum (4600 Humboldt St. in Denver)
Morning Ceremony | 9:30 a.m.
College of Business
College of Health and Human Sciences
College of Aerospace, Computing, Engineering and Design
Afternoon Ceremony | 2:30 p.m.
College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
School of Education
School of Hospitality
Each ceremony will last approximately two hours. It is recommended that graduates arrive 90 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 Denver Coliseum located at 4600 Humboldt St. in Denver. The ceremony will consist of performances, speeches, and most importantly, the moment graduates get 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 amount of guests each graduate can bring. Doors will open at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., and seating is first come, first serve.
Regalia
The ordering site will open early Sept. The primary ordering deadline to order regalia is March 15th at 9:59 p.m. MT. Herff Jones has offered a secondary ordering window, which includes a rush shipping fee, from March 16th until April 7 at 9:59 p.m. MT.
All home ship orders that are placed by this deadline, should be received on or before April 23. All other orders can be picked up at the Cap and Gown Pick-Up on Tuesday, April 23 or Wednesday, April 24 between 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. in St. Cajetan’s.
In case you miss the deadlines, regalia will also be available for purchase at Cap & Gown Pick-Up or you can purchase regalia the day of the ceremony.
All information about regalia is posted here, and you can find more information about academic honors as well.
Cap & Gown Pick-Up in St. Cajetan’s
Tuesday, April 23 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday, April 24 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
RSVP to Your Ceremony Through Marching Order
You should receive an email from [email protected]. The email will prompt you to RSVP for your ceremony. The RSVP deadline for the in-person ceremony is November 16 at 11:59 p.m. If you are not attending the ceremony, please still RSVP “no.”
Once you have RSVP’d, you will receive your digital name card, called GradPass. You will need to have your GradPass on your phone on the day of the ceremony in order to have your name read. If anything needs to be changed on your GradPass, including your name, changes must be submitted before the RSVP deadline (Nov 16).
Secure Your Parking Ticket
Parking is available to purchase the month before commencement, and you can purchase those tickets here. Parking tickets are $12.50 if purchased in advance and $15.00 if purchased at the lot entrance on the day of the ceremony. Only credit cards will be accepted on site. The Parking lot is located on McFarland Drive. Please be sure to give yourself enough time to navigate through traffic and find a parking spot.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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.
You can view the list of departments here to determine which college or school your department falls under.
Balloons are not permitted at the Denver Coliseum.
Looking for a way to commemorate?
Friends, families and graduates are welcome to order a commemorative MSU Denver Commencement t-shirt. Or you can purchase flowers that can be picked up from the flower booth on the day of the ceremony. The flowers will be available for pick up at two tables located inside the entrance of the Denver Coliseum.
Commencement Policies
Traditionally, Commencement is the high point of the academic year and is the most dignified of academic ceremonies. The Commencement ceremony is reserved for recognition of students completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree, however you can check with individual programs to determine if they hold other recognition ceremonies for completion of certificates or other credentials.
To assure that candidates experience the recognition they deserve for the hard work required to complete their degree, the following Commencement Policies have been established by the University.
- All candidates, their families and friends are expected to remain for the entire Commencement Ceremony. Any unnecessary movement may prevent families and friends of those persons crossing the stage from hearing the name of the graduate read. Graduates should not leave the ceremony grounds until the appropriate time during the recessional.
- No one but the graduates, faculty, and members of the platform party will be permitted in the stage area of the ceremony grounds.
To preserve the dignity of the Commencement ceremony, no alcoholic beverages are permitted. A Marshal will confiscate any alcoholic substance immediately. Further, should any Marshal deem an individual unable to safely participate in the Commencement ceremony as a result of the consumption of an alcoholic beverage, that individual will be removed from the line of march and not permitted to participate in the Commencement ceremony.