Good afternoon,
You are one of the 5,000 CSU Rams who are participating in Spring 2025 commencement events, and we’re thrilled to be celebrating this milestone achievement with you!
The commencement website is a great resource with answers to every question we’ve been asked so far – please spend some time on it to make sure you have everything you need.
As we enter May, below is important information about commencement events and the actions you need to take in the coming weeks.
What to do now:
- Claim your tickets: Your guests will need tickets for University-wide Commencement. They do not need tickets for most recognition ceremonies.
- If you RSVP’d before April 1, University-wide tickets were emailed to you from [email protected]. If you RSVP’d after April 1, your tickets will be sent next week. When tickets arrive, please claim your requested tickets and send them to your guests.
- Please note that each ticket has a unique bar code for single use, so you will need to add your tickets to your mobile device wallet. To share tickets with your guests, you can send a screenshot or print the tickets.
- Students participating in commencement do not need tickets for any event; tickets are for guests only.
- There are four recognition ceremonies that require tickets, which are noted with an * on the recognition ceremony page: 1) political science; 2) economics; 3) DVM; 4) history + international studies + languages, literatures, and cultures. If you have not received instructions on how to get your guest tickets for these four ticketed recognition ceremonies, please email [email protected].
- Pick up your cap and gown: Graduates must wear a cap and gown (also known as regalia) at both the recognition ceremony and University-wide Commencement.
- There are two exceptions to wearing regalia: the Honors Program recognition ceremony, where graduates wear business attire; and Air Force and Army ROTC Commissioning, where graduates wear dress uniform.
- Pre-ordered regalia is available for pick-up from the Alumni Association front desk until May 15 or at Senior Send-Off May 15-16.
- Still need to purchase regalia? Buy yours at Senior Send-Off from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 15 and from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 16. Senior Send-Off is at the Iris & Michael Smith Alumni Center on the northeast corner of Canvas Stadium.
- Share the livestream link:All ceremonies will offer real-time livestreaming.
- The University-wide Commencement livestream will be recorded, captioned, and available online after the event. Share the link with people in your life who aren’t attending in person!
- Make a plan: Please make sure your guests have their tickets, you’ve coordinated your transportation to University-wide Commencement, and you select a meeting spot outside the stadium where you will meet up with your supporters following the event. No one will be allowed to stay in the stadium following the event.
- Grab your clear bag! Everyone entering Canvas Stadium or Moby Arena throughout commencement weekend will need to follow CSU’s clear bag policy and enter through a metal detector.
- GradImages photos: Fill out your information on GradImages for easy and quicker access to professional day-of photos.
- Fill out your Final Destination Survey to let CSU know about your plans after completing your degree.
Day-of details
- Parking: A specific commencement parking pass is required to park on campus on May 16.
- Graduates who requested a parking pass through the RSVP form by the deadline have one parking pass to share with their guests.
- Your parking pass was emailed to you from [email protected]. You will need to add your pass to your mobile device wallet. To share the pass with your guests, you can send a screenshot or print the pass.
- Note that you cannot park just anywhere! Each parking pass is assigned to a specific parking lot on campus.
- We do NOT have additional parking passes.
- There will be a lot of traffic around campus. Please plan ahead and consider using public transit!
- Parking rules will not be enforced on campus on May 15 after noon (12 p.m.) and will not be enforced all day May 17-18 to allow for recognition ceremony parking. However, standard rules regarding loading zones and ADA parking will be enforced at all times.
- Senior Send-Off: Senior Send-Off takes place all day May 15 and 16 at the Iris & Michael Smith Alumni Center on the northeast corner of Canvas Stadium – enjoy a toast, photos with CAM, cap decorating and more, including food trucks from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 16.
- Processional line-up times and information
- University-wide Commencement is at 4:30 p.m. on May 16. Graduates should arrive at 2:30 p.m. to line up for the big event. This is the same time that doors open to guests. Graduates will begin walking into the stadium at 4 p.m. for the event start at 4:30 p.m.
- Graduates will line up by college – look for your college’s feather flag. View the processional line-up map.
- Graduates are welcome to bring food truck items into the processional line-up area. There will be water and portable toilets provided in the line-up area.
- Remember, the clear bag policy is in effect for graduates entering Canvas Stadium. We advise you not to bring additional personal items outside of your regalia and phone.
- Your recognition ceremony is hosted by academic units: Watch for an email from your college with details about when to line up for your recognition ceremony.
- University-wide Commencement is at 4:30 p.m. on May 16. Graduates should arrive at 2:30 p.m. to line up for the big event. This is the same time that doors open to guests. Graduates will begin walking into the stadium at 4 p.m. for the event start at 4:30 p.m.
For answers to all of your questions, visit the frequently asked questions page of the commencement website for detailed information, and continue to watch your email for specific details.
Go Rams!