Regalia & Memorabilia

Students are permitted to participate in commencement only after completing all degree requirements and applying to graduate. Questions about this policy should be directed to student advisors. Summer graduates are invited to participate in the fall ceremony or the spring ceremony that follows their degree completion.

Exceptions to this policy are limited. For information about the process for requesting an exception, please contact your advisor.

Please note that graduate names are noted in the commencement program only in the semester for which you have been approved to graduate.

No, you do not have to attend. Commencement is an optional activity to celebrate the completion of your degree. A fee is charged to those students who do participate to help offset the costs of producing the ceremony.

Students who select the on-campus pick up option during registration will pick up their rental items at St. Cajetan's on the Auraria Campus on either Wednesday, Dec. 6 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. or Thursday, Dec. 7 between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Early pick up is not available.

During registration, graduates have the option to pay to ship their gowns to their homes in order to receive them before the on-campus pick up date.

Once orders are placed, graduates cannot change their delivery preference.

If you missed early cap and gown pick-up, you can pick up your regalia on Saturday, before the start of the ceremony. When you arrive at the Convention Center, the regalia table will be on the first floor. 

Yes! We encourage students to express their creativity. Be sure to use #CUDenverGrad on social media, so we can see what you create! 

Graduates do not receive their diplomas at the ceremony. All diplomas are mailed to graduates approximately six to eight weeks after the end of the semester. Diploma addresses can be updated via the student portal.

Diploma covers are available for pick up year round by visiting the front desk at Lynx Central or emailing commencement@ucdenver.edu.

Diploma covers will not be mailed to graduates.

To ensure that all students are wearing the proper regalia and that it is consistent with the university's quality standards, all graduates are required to rent caps and gowns through Herff Jones, our official vendor. All CU Denver graduates wear regalia featuring CU colors.

Yes, if you need someone else to pick up your regalia on your behalf, please email them a copy of your registration confirmation and they can show that to the regalia provider at pick up.

​To obtain honor cords to be worn with your gown, contact an advisor with your school or college prior to the commencement ceremony. Honor cords are only presented to undergraduate students.

Cancellations received by the close of cap and gown registration will receive a full refund. After this date the commencement fees cannot be refunded. If you chose to have your regalia shipped to you, it can be returned for a refund in the return envelope. You will only receive a full refund if the gown was unopened.

​Contact Alex Frieler at Herff Jones (ajfrieler@herffjones.com​) to inquire about buying regalia.

Graduates can purchase souvenir tassels, class rings, announcements, and more through the registration website without registering to participate in the ceremony. Instructions for receiving your items will be provided.

Individual student organizations and departments coordinate orders and distribution of participation and recognition cords and stoles. Please contact your organization or the affiliated department to inquire about cords and stoles.

New cord or stole programs must be approved by the Commencement Office. Please submit your request to the Commencement Office at commencement@ucdenver.edu​. All requests for new cords and stoles must be approved before ordering.

CU Denver partners with Herff Jones to provide graduation products (announcements, rings, frames, etc.) with the approved commencement dates, designs, and branding. However, you may elect to purchase announcements or memorabilia from any provider. Students are required to use Herff Jones for their cap and gown rental.

Yes, you can still participate and your name will be read, but you will be charged late fees. You will need to go to cap and gown pick-up (Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in St. Cajetan's on the Auraria Campus) to rent your cap and gown and pay the commencement fees. Please note that all on-site payments will include a $50 late fee, in addition to standard commencement fees.