Commencement FAQs
Q: What is the difference between Commencement and graduation?
Q: Where can I find the Graduation Application? When is it due?
Q: Is there a rehearsal for the Commencement Ceremony?
Q: I would like to know if my name is still on the list to graduate this semester. Can you find out?
Q: I graduated in the Summer and want to walk in a ceremony. What do I do?
Q: Will my family be able to take pictures of me as I cross the stage?
Q: I'm graduating with honors. How do I get my honors cords?
Q: When and where is the Spring 2013 Graduation Fair?
Q: How do I order announcements?
Q: When can I get my cap and gown – how much do they cost?
Q: Does my family need tickets to attend graduation? Does it cost?
Q: My relative needs to sit in the wheelchair area. Can the rest of my family sit with them?
Q: When should I arrive at the Auraria Fields with my family? I want them to have a good seat.
Q: Where do I park? Does it cost anything?
Q: When will I receive my diploma?
Q: I have moved and would like my diploma mailed to me, what should I do?
Q: I want to order a diploma frame. What are the dimensions of the diploma?
Q: Is there a place where I can watch a video of past Commencement Ceremonies?
Q: Our honor society is not recognized as an official honor society. Who can fix that?
Q: I left the commencement ceremony with my gown and forgot to return it, what should I do?
Q: What is the difference between Commencement and graduation?
A: Commencement is the ceremony we celebrate your accomplishments as you end your student life and begin your life as a member of the Metropolitan State University of Denver's Alumni Association. Graduation is the act of completing all graduation requirements, e.g., applying for graduation, ensuring the accuracy of your CAPP report, ordering your cap and gown, ordering your graduation announcements, etc.
Q: Where can I find the Graduation Application? When is it due?
A: You can access the application at http://www.msudenver.edu/registrar/student/graduationevaluation/. The Spring 2013 deadline has passed (February 8th, 2013). Mailed applications must have been post-marked no later than February 8th, 2013. The Summer 2013 Graduation Application deadline is on June 7th, 2013.
Q: I missed the Graduation Application Deadline! Am I too late? Can I still graduate? HELP! I’m freaking out!!
A: If you have missed the Application for Graduation deadline you must apply to officially graduate for a subsequent semester. There are no exceptions for late graduation applications. You can walk in any commencement ceremony, however, your name will not appear in the program until you complete all academic requirements.
Q: Is there a rehearsal for the Commencement Ceremony?
A: No. Graduation Candidates need to arrive at the Auraria Fields no later than 7:30 a.m. 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.
Q: I would like to know if my name is still on the list to graduate this semester. Can you find out?
A: Unfortunately, we do not have access to student's academic records. Please contact the Graduation Evaluation (Registrars) Office at (303) 556-3991 or email at regquery@msudenver.edu to have your questions answered about graduation status.
Q: I graduated in the Summer and want to walk in a ceremony. What do I do?
A: Students are welcome to walk in the Spring/Fall commencement ceremony. You won't receive a diploma until all credits have been completed. Please contact the Graduation Evaluation Office at (303) 556-3991 or email at regquery@msudenver.edu.
Q: Will my family be able to take pictures of me as I cross the stage?
A: No. Family members will not be allowed close enough to the stage to take photos of you. However, a professional photographer will take the picture of each candidate as he or she receives the degree. The photographer will contact each candidate by email three to four days follow the ceremony regarding the option of purchasing photos. While in the graduate assembly area, please write a legible email address on the back of your name card in order for the photographer to contact you in a timely manner.
Q: I'm graduating with honors. How do I get my honors cords?
A: 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 receive honor cords at Grad Finalé. You must present the letter to receive your honor chords. To recognize the students who received honors the University will be providing the honor cords free of charge.
Q: When and where is the Spring 2013 Graduation Fair?
A: Since most of our candidates for graduation conduct most of their interactions online, we are strongly encouraging them to order caps and gowns, announcements and other graduation needs online.
Q: How do I order announcements?
A: There are several vendors that you can work with, Herff-Jones and CB Graduation Announcements are a few. You can buy blank announcements or do custom orders at the Auraria Bookstore. You are also welcome to order from any company you choose.
Q: When can I get my cap and gown – how much do they cost?
A: Caps, 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 deadline for reserving your cap and gown online was March 22, 2013. Additional cap and gowns have been ordered and will be available for you to pick up at the Grad Finalé. This is located at the Student Success Building, 1st and 2nd floor lobby, at the following times: Tuesday, May 7, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. or Wednesday, May 8, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Remember to bring cash only!!
The undergraduate price for cap and gown is $36.00, the price for master graduates is $64.00 - part of your rental includes your school's designated tassel. The price for a red and blue souvenir tassel is $8.75. There will also be honor cords and extra degree tassels available during Grad Finalé, 2 weeks prior to the commencement ceremony. Be sure to bring cash if you did not pre-order. We will send email reminders to the graduation candidates – so be sure to check your email regularly!
Q: I live out of state and cannot attend Grad Finale. Am I out of luck? Should I just wear my best t-shirt and jeans?
A: You may pick up your cap and gown the morning of commencement. Please arrive by 7:30 a.m. to pick up your cap and gown so that you will have enough time to change and get into line with your fellow graduation candidates. If you did not pre-order your cap and gown, you will need to bring cash for the rental.
If you cannot pick up your cap and gown because of class or work, a friend or family member can pick it up for you. They will need cash (if it was not pre-ordered), the graduation candidate's major, height and weight. Special accommodations should be pre-ordered by March 22nd! Herff-Jones can not guarantee special orders after this date.
Q: Does my family need tickets to attend graduation? Does it cost?
A: No. Seating is on a first-come-first-served basis and it is free.
Q: My relative needs to sit in the wheelchair area. Can the rest of my family sit with them?
A: Candidates who have family members with disabilities (wheelchair, walker, hearing or visual impairment) that are going to attend the Commencement Ceremony will need to reserve tickets for the ADA seating area through our registration system. Please visit our ADA section to register and for more information.
If you are a candidate for graduation and have a disability, please contact commencement@msudenver.edu.
Q: When should I arrive at the Auraria Fields with my family? I want them to have a good seat.
A: The ceremony begins at 9:00 a.m. (SHARP). Students should arrive at 7:30 a.m. Families typically begin arriving around 7:30 a.m., however, we recommend that guests arrive no later than 8:00 a.m. There will be a large screen so that those in the back of the fields will be able to see the ceremony.
Q: Where do I park? Does it cost anything?
A: Parking on campus is free of charge on Sundays and you are welcome to park in the recommended lots: Dogwood Lot, Holly Lot, 7th Street Parking Garage and the Tivoli Parking Garage. For the map and directions please visit the AHEC Parking and Transportation Services website: http://www.ahec.edu/parking/index.htm.
Q: I have mailed my graduation postcard and have not heard anything about my diploma or graduation status. Can you verify my status for me?
A: We do not have access to academic records. Please contact The Office of the Registrar (303) 556-3991 or visit their office #160 in the Student Success Building
Q: When will I receive my diploma?
A: Diplomas are typically available mid January for fall graduates and mid June for Spring Grads. Fall 2012 Diplomas will become available January 25th, 2013. Please contact the Registrar’s Office for specific info at (303) 556-3991 or email at regquery@msudenver.edu.
Q: I have moved and would like my diploma mailed to me, what should I do?
A: Please call Graduation Evaluation Office at (303) 556-3991 or visit the Office of the Registrar website to email any of the Graduation Evaluation staff members to have your diploma mailed.
Q: I want to order a diploma frame. What are the dimensions of the diploma?
A: The diplomas are standard letter size; 8 ½’ x 11’. You can also order a special diploma frame from the Alumni Association at www.msudenver.edu/alumni.
Q: Is there a place where I can watch a video of past Commencement Ceremonies?
A: Go to our Future/Past Event page, which is a tab on our Commencement website. It is located at the bottom of the page in our archive. You can search by the specific term you are looking for. Here is the direct link: http://www.msudenver.edu/commencement/pastfutureevents/
Q: Our honor society is not recognized as an official honor society. Who can fix that?
A: We can. There is a form every honor society needs to complete for the commencement committee to review for approval. When completing the form, keep in mind that there can be only one society per major, i.e., i.e. Psi Chi is the honor society for Psychology. If we receive an application for a second honor society for psychology, we will call a meeting to review both so that there will be only one society recognized. The form is available at: http://www.msudenver.edu/honsocs/facultyadvisors/
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