Graduate Student Commencement

Graduate students must submit a Graduation Application after receiving notification from the School of Graduate Studies or a graduate program. The application is due within the first two weeks of the semester in which the student plans to complete all degree requirements.

Students are responsible for meeting all academic requirements, but the University provides tools to help track progress. Academic Progress reports (APR) in Workday are a resource for advising and graduation audits.

To participate in commencement, a graduate student must have six or fewer credits remaining and register to complete those credits in the upcoming summer or fall semester. Participation in commencement does not signify that a student has graduated if degree requirements are incomplete.

The Office of the Registrar awards degrees at the end of the semester if all requirements are met and final grades are submitted within 25 working days after the last day of that semester. If requirements, including final grades, are not completed within this timeframe, the graduation date on the diploma and transcript reflects the semester when the instructor submits final grades.

May 4 – May 8, 2026:

Reader Cards: Announcers use reader cards to call your name during commencement because there is no assigned seating. If you have confirmed your participation in commencement, please pick up your reader card from Alumni Relations (Aspinall-Wilson Center, 909 E. Escalante Dr.) May 4 – May 8, 2026 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Any reader cards not picked up by May 8 can be picked up from the School of Graduate Studies table near the staging area in the Mountaineer Bowl at the Rady Family Sports Complex on Saturday, May 9, at 8:30 am. 

May 8, 2026:

Celebration of Distinguished Achievement in Graduate Studies: 4:45 – 6:00 pm, Quigley Hall, Kincaid Concert Hall. Family and friends are welcome to attend.

Commencement: Meet at the Mountaineer Bowl at the Rady Family Sports Complex by 9:15 a.m. to line up for the ceremony.  

If your guest(s) need accessibility accommodations, please complete the online accommodation request form and provide us with as much information as possible regarding the needs of your guests.  Email inquiries to the Center for Disability and Accommodations at disabilityaccommodations@western.edu. 

Commencement Livestream

All Western Colorado University commencement participants must wear appropriate academic regalia. In addition to a cap and gown, master’s graduates are required to have an academic hood for the hooding ceremony held during commencement. The hood symbolizes academic achievement and represents the graduate’s field of study.

Regalia is available for purchase online through Balfour.

Order Regalia

Place regalia order online between January 12 and March 14, 2026. Orders placed between March 22 and March 31, 2026,, will be assessed a $25 late fee.

After submitting your order, you cannot make changes online. For assistance or questions about your order, contact Balfour at 1.800.683.4771 between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm CST, Monday – Friday, or by email.

Email Balfour