Published: May 3, 2018
2017 commencement ceremony at Folsom Field

Join the CU 麻豆影院 campus in honoring our newest graduates at the spring commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 10, where 8,163听degrees will be awarded.听The event听will feature CU 麻豆影院 alumna and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown听as the speaker.

The ceremony will honor fall 2017听and 2018 spring and summer degree candidates, including 6,063听bachelor鈥檚 degrees, 1,487听master鈥檚 degrees, 199听law degrees and 414听doctoral degrees.*

If you go

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  • Stadium gates open at 7 a.m. Guests should be in their seats by 8:15 a.m. The ceremony begins at 8:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public, and does not require tickets.

Clear bag policy

  • Folsom Field complies with all TSA and Homeland Security prohibited items lists.听The only bags allowed are bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12"听x 6"听x 12"听or one-gallon (or smaller) clear plastic food-storage-type bags.听No other bags are permitted鈥攊ncluding backpacks, diaper bags and other similar bags.
  • A small number of individual lockers will be available onsite to secure items that do not meet security guidelines. Get more details here.

Campus parking and traffic information

  • Expect heavy traffic while traveling to 麻豆影院, within the city and on campus.听Parking attendants will direct you to the available lots in the area as you enter campus.听Parking meters and pay stations on campus are free the day of Commencement. See the听campus map; get听parking and shuttle information.

Join the conversation

  • Use #ForeverBuffs on commencement photos and stories.
  • Follow @CU麻豆影院 and @CU麻豆影院Alumni on Twitter and Instagram.
  • The ceremony will also be broadcast live听on听听and听.

Spring Commencement Ceremony

Logistics

Stadium gates open at 7 a.m. Guests should be in their seats by 8:15 a.m. to watch the student processional. Attendees should leave ample time for traffic, parking and security screening. City and campus roads may be congested for approximately one and a half hours before the ceremony and about an hour afterward.

The only bags allowed are bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12"听x 6" x 12"听or one-gallon (or smaller) clear plastic food-storage-type bags.听No other bags are permitted鈥攊ncluding backpacks, diaper bags and other similar bags.

The ceremony is held outdoors regardless of weather, and attendees are encouraged to dress appropriately for Colorado鈥檚 ever-changing conditions. In the event of heavy rain or snow, an abbreviated ceremony will be held. Follow local media and alerts.colorado.edu for any weather-related delays.

Early arrival is recommended.听Guests attending departmental recognition ceremonies directly following the main ceremony are encouraged to park in areas near their department ceremony.听(Please review the听Department Recognition Ceremonies webpage听for specific locations.)

Check out the campus map for a visual of the affected areas during commencement.听

Commencement speaker

CU 麻豆影院 alumna and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown will give the commencement address. Since taking office in 2015, Gov. Brown has made significant strides for Oregon鈥檚 economy, including raising the minimum wage and investing in green energy, education and public transportation. Brown is the first openly LGBTQ governor in the country. She succeeded Gov. John Kitzhaber upon his resignation and went on to win a 2016 special election. 听

From 2009 to 2015, she served as Oregon鈥檚 secretary of state and previously served 17 years as a state legislator. Brown earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in environmental conservation with a certificate in women鈥檚 studies from CU 麻豆影院 in 1981.

Lucile Berkeley Buchanan

Lucile Berkeley Buchanan, the first African-American woman to graduate from CU 麻豆影院, was barred from walking across the Macky Auditorium stage to accept her degree in 1918. College of Media, Communication and Information Associate Professor Polly McLean, who wrote a book on Buchanan, will symbolically accept Buchanan's degree on stage this year.

Honorary degree

Richard Schaden, an aeronautical engineer, aviation lawyer and听entrepreneur, will be听awarded the听honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters听in recognition of his generosity and dedication to engineering, entrepreneurship, education and the law.

College, department ceremonies

Many departments within CU 麻豆影院鈥檚 to personally recognize their graduates. Students should check with their individual departments for more information.

Forever Buffs

More than 250,000 CU 麻豆影院 alumni are part of the听Forever Buffs听community with access to all of the programs, events, benefits and services offered by the Alumni Association dues-free for life.

Alumni facts

  • 2,504 alumni have served in the Peace Corps
  • 14 astronauts

Graduates walk under ForeverBuffs arch during commencementNotable alumni

  • Byron White, Supreme Court justice
  • Matt Stone;听co-creator and executive producer,听South Park
  • Cynthia Lawrence, opera singer
  • Roy Romer, Colorado governor
  • Kate Brown, Oregon governor
  • Mary Decker Slaney, world-class runner
  • Rick Reilly, sports writer
  • Billy Kidd, Olympic skier
  • Roberta Ramo, first female president of the American Bar Association
  • Jim Gray, television sportscaster for ESPN, CBS and NBC
  • Hank Brown, U.S. senator
  • David Grusin, composer
  • Jeanne Jackson; CEO, Banana Republic,听Walmart.com
  • More notable alumni

*Note: These figures were updated May 1, 2018.听