Graduation: What You Need to Know

Planning to graduate from CMDI?

Students are eligible for graduation when they have completed all degree requirements.

Regardless of whether you plan to attend our ceremonies, you must apply to graduate via the Buff Portal. Find more information now →

If you graduated this past December,you are invited to come back to participatein the spring 2026 events.

Information for graduate students

To be eligible to earn an advanced degree, students must fulfill appropriate requirements as established by their academic department and the Graduate School, and have an approved candidacy application.

Note: Please submit paperwork first to your department and allow time for review before Graduate School deadlines.

Go to the Graduate School’s website for complete information on upcoming Graduate School deadlines →

Mark Your Calendars: 2026 Ceremonies for Graduates

Students must have submitted their to be eligible to graduate and participatein commencement ceremonies.

⭐ University Commencement (May 2)

The 91Ҹ 91Ҹ will host the spring 2026University Commencement Ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 2, at Folsom Field.

⭐ CMDI Recognition Ceremonies (May 3)

CU 91Ҹ colleges, schools, departments and programs also will celebrate the Class of 2026with individual recognition ceremonies.

CMDI will host a graduation recognition ceremony on Sunday, May 3.

  • The ceremony begins at 8 a.m. at the CU Events Center.Graduates must arrive by 7 a.m.
  • Doors open for seating at 7a.m. No tickets are required to attend.
  • Following the ceremony, join us for a reception at Engebretson Quad. The reception is from 10 to 11 a.m. Light refreshments will be served.

The Department of Environmental Design will also host a recognition ceremony on Sunday, May 3.

  • The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. in the Upper Gymnasium of the CU Recreation Center. Graduates must arrive by 1 p.m.
  • Doors open for seating at 1 p.m. No tickets are required to attend.
  • A reception in the same location will immediately follow the ceremony.
  • More details can be found on the ENVD graduation page.

if you’re planning to attendeither (or both) of these ceremonies.

Regalia Information for Ceremony Days

CMCI students at the spring recognition ceremony

Plan ahead for your graduation regalia.

To participate in either the CU or CMDI ceremonies, you must wear academic regalia. You can purchase your regalia from the .

Learn more

Students can pick up honors medals, involvement cords and leadership stoles at the campus Grad Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, April 20, in the Glenn Miller Ballroom, UMC.

Regalia

You must wear regalia to participate.

  • Bachelor’s candidates: Wear your cap and gown upon arrival. Start with your red or lavender tassel on the right side.
  • Master’s candidates: Wear your cap, gown and hood upon arrival. Start with your black tassel on the left.
  • Doctoral candidates:Wear your cap and gown. You will carry your hood with you into the arena and be hooded on stage.

Multiple on-campus parking lots will be free to the public on graduation ceremony daysand there will be free shuttle drop-off services. View full parking information →

  • Parking for guests requiring accessibility: Guests who need ADA accessible parking may park in lots 440 West (closest to the CU Events Center), 204, 346, 359, 360 or 380.
    • A disability parking placard is not required to park in lots 204, 380 or 440 West.
    • A disability parking placard is required to park in lots 346, 359 or 360.

Graduates have a separate entrance in order to sign in and line up.

Please follow signage to the north loading dock entrance of the CU Events Center and enter the double doors to the far right.

  • Once you arrive (at 7a.m.):
    • If you RSVP'd, thank you! Pick up your printed registration card at the table that corresponds with your last name.You will later hand the card to the person announcing your name as you reach the stage.
    • If you missed the deadline to RSVP, please arrive promptly to allow for time to check in.
  • Our staff will direct you to line up by your degree program at 7:30 a.m. In the meantime, stay hydrated.
  • There are portable restrooms outside the venue as you enter, but none inside the check-in area or once the ceremony starts. Please plan accordingly.
  • There is no storage space for graduates to keep items during the ceremony. Graduates are responsible for carrying all personal items they bring, and all belongings are subject to the . Please take all items with you; students will not return to the lower gym after the ceremony.

Family and guests will follow signage to enter through the front doors of the CU Events Center.

  • Graduation programs will be distributed throughout the CU Events Center Concourse as you enter through the doors.
  • Family and friends should be seated by 7:45 a.m. Guests may sit anywhere not marked reserved, ADA/Disability or graduate seating. All seats are first come, first served. The earlier guests arrive, the better seats they can secure. Tickets are not required.
  • Guests requiring accommodations, such as wheelchair seating, interpreters or assisted-listening devices, should contact the ADA Compliance office at (303) 492-9725 orvia email ASAP so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
  • Concessions will be open for guests to purchase snacks and drinks.
  • Flowers are available for purchase on the upper level of the concourse behind sections 7 and 8 and sections 23 and 24.

Clear bag requirements:To support security measures, CU Events Center has limitations on bags and items that may be brought with you. With the exception of medical bags, all bags must meet certain requirements.

  • of permitted and prohibited bags and other items →
  • There will not be storage space for graduates and their guests to keep items during the ceremony. Graduates are responsible for carrying any personal items they bring, and all belongings are also subject to the .

Security: All graduates and guests are subject to security screenings, which may include walk-through metal detectors, electronic wanding and inspection of bags or other personal items.

A professional photographer with will take pictures of all graduates with a diploma cover.

GradImages will distribute contact cards to each student to fill out with their name, address and email. They will use this information to contact you after the ceremony to view and purchase your pictures.

GradImages offers a 20% discount to those who before the ceremony.

Our reception will be held from 10 to 11 a.m.at Engebretson Quad.

All graduatesand their guests are encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information about ENVD's ceremony, visit the department's graduation webpage.

  • Sunday, May 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Upper Gymnasium of the CU Recreation Center. A reception in the same location will immediately follow the ceremony.
  • Doors open for seating at 1 p.m. No tickets are required to attend.
  • to ensure that the ceremony’s name caller will use the correct phonetic pronunciation of your name.

For more information, please visit the CU Commencement website.

Previous Ceremonies