Commencement FAQs

For bachelor's degree candidates: contact Academic Advising at 719-255-3260 or advising@uccs.edu for help with applying to graduate or confirming your graduation status and degree requirements. 

For master's and PhD graduate candidates: Contact your department staff or faculty representative.

Yes. Registering for the ceremony confirms your participation.

Please use the link on the commencement homepage to register to participate in the ceremony.

        Please Note: If you have already applied to graduate, you must also register to participate in commencement. They are two separate processes. If you still need to apply to graduate, you can do that here: Applying to Graduate

Visit the UCCS Campus Store in the University Center 

• Commencement Regalia is available year-round at the UCCS Campus Store

• Visit the Jostens table at the Graduation Fair at the UCCS Campus Store in the University Center, or order directly by calling or at 719-255-3247.
   
• Announcements are also available for purchase at the Copy Center. For more information, visit the Copy Center in University Center Room 105 or contact them at 719-255-3213 or copycenter@uccs.edu.

Yes, you will be able to pick up your honor cord at check-in at the Commencement Ceremony.

Latin Honors are calculated based on a student's CU Cumulative GPA. For the commencement ceremony, including honor cords and the program, final semester grades may not be included in this calculation.

Latin Honor designations are recalculated once all grades are posted and will be displayed on official diploma and transcripts. 

There is no rehearsal for the ceremony. Graduates will be lined up by degree upon arrival.

Ph.D.s and DNPs are hooded on stage individually. They will receive extra direction on site.

Yes! Graduates who have opted-in to recieve communication to their UCCS email address from UCCS will recieve a Know Before You Go Email to their UCCS email address the week prior to Commencement.

Approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. The ceremony recognizes Ph.D./DNP, Master's and bachelor's graduates. 

For Undergraduates: Tassels should start on the right side of the mortarboard. At the end of the ceremony graduates will be asked to move it to the left.

For Masters and Ph.D.s: Tassels begin and remain on the left side of the mortarboard.

In the order listed in the program. Graduates will cross the stage in a double line fashion.

We ask that graduates remain after crossing the stage and out of respect for their fellow graduates.

Yes! The livestream will be available on the commencement website on commencement day.

FROM INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 25:
Take Exit 138 (S. Circle Dr./Lake Ave.); West on Lake Ave. 2 blocks to Venetucci Blvd.; South on Venetucci Blvd. to the Broadmoor World Arena

ALTERNATE ROUTES:

From the North: Take I-25 south to Exit 140B (Nevada Ave.); South on Nevada Ave. to either Cheyenne Mountain Blvd. or Cheyenne Meadows Rd. to Venetucci Blvd.; Follow to the Broadmoor World Arena

From the South: Take I-25 North to Exit 135 (Academy Blvd.); West on Academy Blvd. to B Street; North on B Street, then north on Venetucci Blvd. to the Broadmoor World Arena 

No. Parking is free in the lots surrounding The Broadmoor World Arena. Event staff will direct you to the appropriate parking locations.

It depends on the item. We are required to follow the guidelines set forth by The Broadmoor World Arena. All bags and backpacks will be searched upon entry. No outside food or beverages will be allowed. 

If you have a stroller or infant carrier/car seat, it must be checked at the Penrose Club Entrance. There is not room in the seating area for these items. Please hold small children on your laps.

The following Items will not be permitted inside of The Broadmoor World Arena:

• Any outside food or beverages
• Alcoholic beverages
• Marijuana (legal or medical)
• Illegal or illicit drugs
• Drones
• Flag/sign supports (ie flag sticks/poles)
• Glass bottles or aluminum cans
• Coolers
• Thermos containers
• Bota bags or wine skins
• Bullhorns/whistles or noise makers
• Laser pointers/pens
• Framed backpacks
• Confetti
• Beach balls and other inflatables
• Skateboards or rollerblades
• Stools or folding chairs
• Water bottles or mugs
• Pets or animals (with the exception of service animals)
• Selfie Sticks
• Tools

Check here for more information.

Guests will only need tickets to attend spring commencement ceremonies. Fall/Summer ceremonies will remain un-ticketed. (Children 2 and under do NOT need a ticket). Please refer to the Ticket FAQ page for more information.

Graduates will receive up to 7 guest tickets when registering to walk at Commencement. Graduates may request to be put on a waitlist for additional tickets, however, the number of additional tickets cannot be guaranteed. Please refer to the Ticket FAQ page for more information

ADA accommodations are first come first serve. Your guests will need to notify a Broadmoor World Arena employee once they arrive and they will be assisted to those seats.

Graduate accessibility

• There is an elevator leading you to the service level – this is where check in is. Enter elevator by Gate A and into “Club Entrance”
• We have a new stage design, that includes ramps leading up to a riser. After you get your name called, and receive your diploma cover, proceed across the stage and down the opposite ramp.

Guest accessibility

• Please let the parking attendants know that you need to park in handicap area.
• If your guest needs wheelchair assistance to a seat, please have them wait at the security entrance (Gates A, B, or C) and wait for a Broadmoor World Arena staff member to bring a wheelchair. Wheelchairs are not available as a personal chair. Guests will need to transfer to stadium seat for duration of the ceremony. An attendant will get them following the ceremony. Broadmoor World Arena Staff oversees this effort.
• ALL seating is first-come-first-serve.
• Row K (labeled on the map with a wheelchair icon) is wheelchair accessible. This is the row that can be accessed without stair or elevator use. Only one additional guest can accompany person utilizing row K, due to limited seating. Family is welcome to sit in seats surrounding Row K.

Sign Language / Closed Captioning / Visual

• Section 107 is where you will be able to descend a flight of stairs and sit as close to the stage as possible! Limited seating available.
• Sign language interpreters available.
• Closed captioning is available on TV within Section 107 and limited charging cables to bring up captioning on personal device. We will have Spanish captioning available on the livestream as well.

General Notes

• ALL seating is first-come-first-serve. Doors will open one hour and thirty minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. Please plan for traffic. The ceremony is only 2 hours, once begun.
• Closed captioning is available on all personal devices by accessing the CART captioning QR code provided upon entrance to the arena.

Yes, we provide sign language in Section 107.

Accessible seating is available for individuals, plus 1-2 guests.

There will be a welcome table with Spanish Speakers. Visit the Ceremony Resources page to access Spanish-translated documents, like the Ceremony Quick Facts.

Limited caps and gowns are available for purchase at the UCCS Campus Store table the day of graduation at the Broadmoor World Arena between Gates A and B.

Faculty are encouraged to mingle with graduates following the ceremony on the arena floor.

All UCCS graduates receive a complimentary membership to the Alumni Association. Contact the Alumni Relations Office at alumni@uccs.edu or visit the Alumni Home Page for more information.

You can visit http://www.gradimages.com/universityofcoloradocoloradosprings The following two pieces of information are required:

• Last Name of the graduate
• Graduate Year

Grad Images customer service number is: 1-800-261-2576 for more information.

Following commencement, GradImages photographers will be circulating outside the commencement venue to capture additional candid photographs of our graduates with their loved ones. The GradImages staff will be wearing red vests, so they’ll be highly visible and easy to locate. Grab a red vest and snap some candid shots!

Diplomas will be mailed to graduates at the address that they have on file with the University 6-8 weeks after the commencement ceremony.

If you have additional questions regarding your diploma, please reach out to the Registrar's Office at: 719-255-3361 OR registrar@uccs.edu

For bachelor's degree candidates: Latin Honors: Summa Cum Laude (old gold), Magna Cum Laude (silver), and Cum Laude (bronze). Other colors represent involvement in honor societies, clubs and other university affiliated organizations. 

Latin honors for Master's and PhD graduate candidates are not awarded.

The University is unable to endorse individual hotels/motels; however, the Colorado Springs Visitors Guide website offers a listing of hotels in Colorado Springs.

There are no printed commencement programs at UCCS. A pdf version will be available on the commencement website prior to commencement day. QR codes will be available for viewing on commencement day.