You are invited to participate in an undergraduate commencement ceremony for the College of Liberal Arts. You may choose to participate in Fall (December) or Spring (May) ceremonies, depending on their availability, family and friends, and interest in participating with their peers graduating at the same time. The College of Liberal Arts will be prepared for each graduate with the Anticipated Graduation Term for that semester’s commencement ceremony (Spring and Summer terms for Spring ceremony; Fall term for Fall ceremony). A name reader card will be pre-printed by the Registrar's Office.

FYI: We need you to set the correct Anticipated Graduation Term in RAMweb.

The Registrar's Office provides names for the printed program based on the Anticipated Graduation Term students designate on RAMweb.

The commencement program in which a student’s name is to be printed follows this protocol:

Student is walking in the SPRING ceremony and degree requirements to be finished the end of Summer term

• Name will be in the Spring program under: “Candidates for Baccalaureate Degree” (in Summer Section)

Student is walking in the SPRING ceremony and degree requirements are to be finished the Fall term

• Name will ONLY be in the Fall program under “Candidates for Baccalaureate Degree

Student is walking in the FALL ceremony but a degree has been awarded for the preceding Summer term

• Name will be in the Fall program under: “Baccalaureate Degrees Awarded for Summer”

Student is walking in the FALL ceremony and degree requirements are to be finished the following Spring

• Name will ONLY be in the following Spring program under “Candidates for Baccalaureate Degree”

Student is a BAS (Bachelor of Arts and Sciences) candidate:

• The student’s name will be printed in the Commencement Program under the college of their primary major. The commencement name card will only be printed for the major of that primary college.

Student entrance map into Moby Arena Intramural Gym 

All graduates must arrive at the Moby Arena Intramural Gym no later than 8:15 a.m. When you arrive, pick up your name card at the tables. Hold on to your name card; you will hand it to the name announcer as you walk across the stage during the commencement ceremony. Once you pick up your card, get in line with your classmates under the sign for your department. You must be checked in and lined up under the department sign no later than 8:40 a.m. Students will process to the Moby Arena at approximately 8:50 a.m. Follow the instructions of the commencement marshals who will lead you to the arena.

Please leave your coats and purses in the car as there is no place to store them. 

All College of Liberal Arts graduating seniors will be individually recognized at the CLA Commencement Ceremony. Only graduates are allowed on the floor of Moby Arena. Individual names will be announced and diploma covers presented. The ceremony will begin promptly at 9 a.m. and will last approximately two hours. Students are expected to remain in the arena for the entire ceremony. Graduating students with special needs (i.e. hearing-impaired, wheelchair seating) should contact Cole Wise at cole.wise@colostate.edu to make arrangements. 

Tickets for guests are not required for the ceremony and the number of guests is not limited. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. Guests will be seated in Moby Arena beginning at 8 a.m. 

Commencement is a dignified ceremony. Candidates must appear in appropriate academic attire at commencement exercises. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted. Public intoxication is not permitted on University property and intoxicated candidates will NOT be allowed to participate in commencement. 

Undergraduate robes are black, and cum laude graduates wear gold robes. Students graduating with distinction (cum laude, etc.) will receive an email notification from the Registrar's Office mid-semester indicating this status; this email must be presented to regalia representatives to rent the gold robes. For questions with graduating with distinction, please contact the Registrar's Office. University Honors Scholars wear green robes and a black stole. A list of University Honors Scholars is provided to the regalia representatives.

Order your cap, gown and tassel in advance online via the commencement homepage and click Get Your Cap & Gown. The deadline for student regalia is Monday, October 28, 2019.

Regalia Pick-up and Grad Fest
Regalia pick up and Grad Fest will be at the Iris & Michal Smith Alumni Center located at 701 W. Pitkin Street (in the stadium). The dates and time will be announced later this semester.

Regalia return will be immediately after the ceremony in the Intramural Gym, Moby C-Wing. 

If you do not drop off your regalia in Moby C-Wing, immediately after the ceremony, it is your responsibility to return it to the Smith Alumni Center. Please note , there is a charge for late returns.

The tassel for undergraduates in the College of Liberal Arts is white and is yours to keep, along with your cap. Extra souvenir tassels are available for purchase.

Clear Bag Policy for Moby Arena – please read!
Guest entrance map - available for download

Tickets for guests are not required for the ceremony and the number of guests is not limited. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. Guest may only enter Moby Arena through the north entrance (see map above). Guests will be seated beginning at 8 a.m. The ceremony will begin promptly at 9 a.m. 

Guests in wheelchairs can be accommodated on both the north and south ends of the concourse level, with the best view of the ceremony on the west side. (The best area to drop off guests in wheelchairs is at the north inclined ramp which will take them up to the concourse level; there are no elevators in this area.) The first two rows of seats in each section will also be reserved for guests who need special assistance because of difficulty managing stairs. Signs will be taped to chairs for these persons and a few of their companions. This seating is available on a first-come, first served basis, and is limited, so please do not plan for large groups to sit in this area. A sign language interpreter will be present. There will be reserved seating in Section P for guests with hearing-impairments.

Guest conduct restrictions
Prohibited items not allowed in Commencement and Commissioning venues include the following:

1. Alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs carried in by patrons.
2. Glass bottles or metal cans.
3. Ice chests or large coolers.
4. Bota bags or wine skins.
5. Sticks, bats or clubs, including any attachments.
6. Fireworks, firearms or other weapons, or simulated weapons.
7. Bullhorns or other artificial noisemakers.
8. Framed backpacks.
9. Animals other than certified guide dogs for people with disabilities.

Please note: no concessions or water will be available for sale during the ceremony. There are drinking fountains located in Moby Arena.

Announcement orders may be placed at www.cbgrad.com or by calling 800-433-0296. Customized orders are returned within seven days of being ordered.  Generic announcements (non-personalized announcements) may be purchased at the University Bookstore at any time.

Guests may use cameras from the upper concourse level. Guests are not permitted on the arena floor during the ceremony.

A professional photographer will take photos of graduates as they line up for individual recognition, as they cross the stage, and in front of a blue screen for customized backgrounds. GradImages® is the official photographer at your graduation ceremony.

You can review photos for purchase online the week after commencement at GradImages website.

Or, if you would like to receive an email when your/your graduate’s photos are available, please visit GradImages preregistration page. Enter Colorado State University and select College of Liberal Arts. You may enter your own information or that of friends and family members who wish to see your photos.

If you need additional help to locate your photos, call the GradImages® customer service department at (800) 261-2576 or email them at giservice@gradimages.net.

In the event of inclement weather, please call 970-491-7667 or check safety.colostate.edu for updates on the University’s operating status and news of any closures or cancellations.

Diploma Covers are handed out at the ceremonies. Your actual diploma will be mailed to you six to eight weeks after commencement. For those unable to attend the ceremony, a diploma cover is available at no charge in the Registrar's Office, Centennial Hall, (970) 491-7159. The postage cost is $5 per cover for U.S. mailings. 

The new CSU Alumni Association app brings your lifelong connection to Colorado State right to your phone! Use the app to keep up with the latest news and alumni events in your area. Plus, grad pack members can access exclusive discounts and benefits using your digital membership card. It offers everything you need to stay a Stalwart Ram after graduation! Download the CSU Alumni Association Mobile App.

Spring 2020

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Ceremony I - 9 a.m.
Anthropology, Art and Art History, Communication Studies, Economics, English, Ethnic Studies, Geography, and History

Ceremony II - 1 p.m.
Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts, International Studies, Journalism and Media Communication, Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Music, Theatre and Dance, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Women's and Gender Studies

PLEASE NOTE: dates and times for the College of Liberal Arts commencement are subject to change.

For more University commencement and commissioning ceremony information, please visit CSU's Commencement website.