Congratulations, Candidates!

First off, please accept our warmest and sincerest congratulations for making it to this point in your academic career. You should be proud of yourself for this accomplishment, and everyone here at Metro State is proud of you, as well.

Commencement is a special occasion and should be a memorable ceremony. Our faculty, staff, and administrators have planned the program and arrangements with every consideration to make this an impressive and enjoyable event for everyone involved.

Keep checking in here because the College will use this website to communicate information to graduation candidates and the public regarding the Fall 2009 Commencement. Candidates should monitor MetroConnect and their MetroConnect email for commencement messages throughout the semester.

Again, please accept our congratulations! There is no doubt that this is an exciting time of the year for you, your families, faculty, administrators and alumni that are celebrating this accomplishment with you. There is no better time than during commencement to see that it is a great day to be a Roadrunner!

Fall 2009 Commencement Ceremony

Fall 2009 Commencement will be held on Sunday, December 13, 2009, 2:00pm at the Colorado Convention Center. Please be sure to allow time for added traffic due to the commencement ceremony.

Remember that the doors will be closed promptly at 2:00 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes to allow for the graduate processional. Planning ahead will make this a great day for all!!

more event information…

Fall 2009 Grad Fair

Tuesday, October 13 from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, October 14 from 2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

St. Cajetan’s Center, Auraria Campus

Stop by the Fall 2009 Grad Fair to check out and order your Commencement regalia, freshly designed this year to include Metro State’s insignia and colors. The new blue robes and caps are required for all graduates at Commencement.

The Grad Fair will also include a variety of vendors and College representatives that can help you with all your graduation related needs, including:

Graduation Announcements
Class Rings
Ceremony Photography
Graduate School Preparation (open to all students)
Post-Graduation Services from Your Alumni Association
Short-Term Health Insurance
Financial Planning
Home, Life and Auto Insurance
And much more!

Come join the festivities for free food, giveaways and a “Rowdy” good time!

NEW THIS FALL - ALL STUDENTS are encouraged to meet representatives from various Colorado graduate schools along with companies that specialize in testing preparation for the GRE, GMAT and other exams. The following graduate school programs confirmed to date include:

Colorado Christian University
UC Denver – School of Education & Human Development
UC Denver – Integrative Biology
University of Denver – Daniels College of Business
University of Denver – Josef Korbel School of International Studies
Regis University – College of Health Professions
Regis University – College of Professional Studies

SPRING 2010 GRADS: If you are planning to graduate in May 2010, watch for more information on the Spring 2010 Grad Fair. It is slated for March 16 and 17 in St. Cajetan’s Center on the Auraria Campus.

Graduation Candidate Instructions

Application for Graduation

Students who are planning to complete requirements Fall semester 2009, must file an Application for Graduation for Fall Semester 2009 by August 28, 2009.

Graduation Checklist

Access the Graduation Checklist.

Instructions for Graduating Candidates

You must monitor MetroConnect for messages and information regarding preparation for Commencement. You will be sent reminder e-mail messages throughout the semester with information on cap and gown rental, graduation honors, graduation announcements, class rings, reporting time at the Convention Center, maps, etc.

If you do not receive the first email announcement by the end of November, please call 303-556-3068, 3983, or 303-352-4264 to determine that your name is on the list of candidates.

For more information regarding the application and degree requirements, visit Graduation Evaluation.

Map, Assembly Area, Seating Diagrams

Assembly Area Diagram

Seating Area Diagram

Walking Map

Commencement Instructions

Traditionally, Commencement is the high point of the academic year and is the most dignified of academic ceremonies. To assure that you experience the recognition you deserve for the hard work required to complete your degree, the following Commencement Policies have been established by the College.

All graduates, 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 floor 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 floor.
To preserve the dignity of the Commencement Ceremony, no alcoholic beverages are permitted in the Colorado Convention Center. A Faculty Marshal will confiscate any alcoholic substance immediately. Further, should any Faculty Marshal deem any 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.

Assembly Area Procedures

STUDENTS REPORT AT 1:00P.M. to the Graduate Assembly Area which is located at the rear of the ceremony area in Hall A (upper-level of the Colorado Convention Center).
Refer to the Assembly Area Diagram to determine your school and major code. Line up alphabetically within your major department, which will be located in back of your school sign. Once in alphabetical order, a card showing your name, major, and degree honor status WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOU. The card must be kept and presented to the reader on stage when you come forward to be acknowledged.
At 2:00 p.m. you will walk in four columns into the Commencement ceremony area and to the academic seating area. YOU MUST STAY IN THE PROPER LINE UNTIL YOU ARE SEATED.
As graduates from your department/school come forward, you will approach the stage from the right. As soon as you hand the reader your name card, proceed immediately across the stage to receive your degree, exiting by the left ramp before returning to your seat.

Additional Commencement Notes

Disabled students who will have difficulty with the processional march or ramps onto and off the stage should contact the Interim Associate Registrar, Paul Myskiw, at (303) 556-4604, immediately. Students who have immediate family who use wheelchairs or walkers should call the Commencement Office, (303) 556-6226, regarding special seating. Special seating tickets must be picked up in the West Classroom building, room 133.
There is no rehearsal for the Commencement Ceremony.
No tickets are required for guests attending the ceremony. No seating is reserved for groups.
Graduates' coats may be hung in the Graduate Assembly Area; however, this should not be considered a secured area.
Family and guests should be in their seats by 1:55 p.m. Doors to the ceremony floor will be closed at 2:00 p.m. for 20 minutes to accommodate the procession of the graduates and faculty.
The tassel on the cap is to be worn on the RIGHT side until you are instructed at the end of the ceremony to switch your tassel.
A professional photographer will take the picture of each graduate as s/he receives the degree. The photographer will contact each graduate by email three to four days following the ceremony regarding the option of purchasing photos.
Teacher licensure students should request their name card from the area of their major. They may then participate with the Teacher Education department (EDUC), if they wish.
Actual fall diplomas will not be available at the commencement ceremony. Graduates will be notified by mail at the end of January regarding the dates diplomas may be picked up or mailed.
Official transcripts with Fall degrees posted will be available late February. You must request official degree transcripts. One will not automatically be sent to you. Please be informed that neither a transcript nor the diploma will be released until the student has cleared all debts to the College, and, if you have a Perkins Loan, you will need to complete the necessary Perkins Loan interview in CN-110.
You are eligible to register for classes for one year following your graduation. Check MetroConnect for this and other information.

Caps and Gowns

Custom-designed by Herff-Jones, the Metro State gowns feature the College’s insignia and school colors. The gowns are blue with red trim, and the official College seal is embroidered on the lapel. All graduating seniors must wear these at the commencement ceremony.

CAP AND GOWN PREORDER

Preordering allows students to have a fitted gown, ready to pick up on the day of distribution. Graduates will be able to view and preorder their caps and gowns at the Fall 2009 Grad Fair, or they can visit the Herff-Jones website. The deadline to preorder is October 30, 2009.

CAP AND GOWN DISTRIBUTION

For those who are unable to preorder, a variety of standard sizes will be available at gown distribution.

LOCATION: Tivoli Student Union - Multicultural Lounge

DATES/TIMES:*
Tuesday, December 8th 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wednesday, December 9th 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

COSTS: **
Cap, Gown and Tassel Rental = $31.25
Souvenir Tassel = $7.00
Extra Degree Tassel = $7.00
Honor Cord = $8.75

*These dates should be early enough to arrange for professional photographs on your own, if you wish.

**Must be paid on the distribution day in *cash*. Phone or mail orders will not be accepted.

Graduation Announcements and Class Rings

If you wish to purchase personalized announcements and have not yet been contacted by the company, please call 1-800-433-0296. Though you may be contacted by more than one announcement company, this is the phone number of CB Announcements, which also supplies the Auraria Book Center. Non-personalized announcements are also available now in the Auraria Book Center. Orders for class rings will also be taken on the cap & gown distribution days, or may be ordered from the book center.

Commencement Ceremony Photos

A professional photographer will take the picture of each graduate as s/he receives the degree. The photographer will contact each graduate by email three to four days following the ceremony regarding the option of purchasing photos. In order to update your address or to order prints, please contact Graduation Foto by phone (1-800-283-1779) or e-mail customerservice@gradfoto.com.

Commencement Ceremony DVD/VHS

DVDs are available to order at Commencement. You may also order a DVD or VHS of the Commencement ceremony by calling 303-758-1818.

Honors: Effective for Fall 2009 Graduates--New Honors Policy

Graduation honors are awarded to students who have demonstrated superior academic ability in their baccalaureate degree while attending Metro State. Honors designations are determined according to the following criteria:

Summa Cum Laude - Top five percent of graduates within each school with cumulative Metro State GPA of no less than 3.65.
Magna Cum Laude - Next five percent of graduates within each school with cumulative Metro State GPA of no less than 3.65.
Cum Laude - Next five percent of graduates within each school with cumulative Metro State GPA of no less than 3.65.

To determine each honors category, GPAs from the previous spring semester graduates are arrayed in rank order. This rank ordering is then used to determine the honors category thresholds for the following fall, spring and summer graduates. The GPA cut-offs for each School are listed below.

2009-10 Academic Year

School	Summa Cum Laude	Magna Cum Laude	Cum Laude
Business	3.84	3.74	3.65
Letters, Arts & Sciences	3.93	3.83	3.77
Professional Studies	3.94	3.81	3.70

The honors designation is calculated twice: once for the commencement ceremony and again at the end of the final semester for the official designation.

Commencement Ceremony

To qualify for graduation honor recognition at the commencement ceremony, a student must have the specified GPA and must have completed a minimum of 50 semester hours of academic credit at Metro State by the end of the term of graduation. UCD pooled classes and transfer credits are not considered when determining honors. Recognition at the commencement ceremony does not guarantee final honors designation on the official record. Honors announced at the commencement ceremony will be based upon a preliminary calculation, which does not include grades from the term of graduation.

Students who qualify for recognition at the ceremony will be sent a letter from the Dean's Office of the School in which their major is located. This letter authorizes students to purchase honor cords at the time they rent their caps and gowns.

Graduates with an Individualized Degree Program Major will be identified for honors purposes within the School most prominent in their major.

Official Honors Designation

Grades earned for the graduating term will affect honors. GPA's are not rounded up (Example: A GPA of 3.149 is not rounded to 3.15). The Official Honors designation will be calculated following the processing of final grades. This recalculation will take into consideration any grade changes submitted to the Registrar's Office during your graduating term. Only the official honors designation is added to the final transcript and diploma. A student must maintain the specified GPA and must complete a minimum of 50 semester hours of academic credit at Metro State by the term of graduation. UCD Pooled classes and transfer credits are not considered when determining honors.

Honor Societies

Visit the Honor Societies Web Site.

Alumni Association

Visit the Alumni Association for more information.