March 27, 2024

Dear CSU Community,

Today we are happy to share that Colorado State University will move to an exciting new commencement format starting in May 2025 at Canvas Stadium. With this new tradition beginning in Spring 2025, CSU’s graduating class will be able to celebrate their achievements all together during one university-wide ceremony each year. In addition to this university-wide commencement ceremony, Departments will host recognition events where each student’s name will be read and families can gather with the faculty and staff who have taught the students and helped them every step of the way.

For Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 commencement, we will retain the individual College-based ceremonies that CSU has historically hosted. These will be the final College-based ceremonies CSU will host before transitioning to the new university-wide format. In order to allow students and families adequate planning time and maximum flexibility, students graduating in Fall of 2024 may choose to participate either in their College’s Fall 2024 commencement ceremony or in the new all-university ceremony in Spring of 2025.

With the new format starting in Spring of 2025, CSU will no longer host both fall and spring commencement events. Instead, the University will invite all graduating students and families to come together each spring. Graduates will participate in one large celebration featuring a prominent commencement speaker, as well as in the smaller events where Departments will acknowledge each student individually. This will unify ourwhole Ram community and will also allow us to celebrate each student in a more intimate setting.

This shift aligns with other leading universities and brings opportunities for memorable traditions and broad campus engagement. The new format responds to feedback from students, faculty, and staff, and comes after a thorough review of the best ceremonies from around the country.

Whether you are a student or family member, or a member of our faculty or staff, there will be a lot of planning ahead and more information to come. Here are the most important details to share now:

• Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 commencements will be unchanged.
• Our first university-wide commencement will take place Friday, May 16, 2025, at 9 a.m. at Canvas Stadium.
• Starting with the first university-wide commencement in Spring 2025, Departments will host individual recognition events where student names will be read and diploma covers issued.
• Summer 2024 graduates are invited to participate in Spring 2024, Fall 2024, or Spring 2025 commencement.
• Fall 2024 graduates are invited to participate in Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 commencement.
• Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 graduates should plan to participate in the Spring 2025 ceremony.
• Fall 2025 graduates are invited to participate in Spring 2025 or Spring 2026 commencement.

As planning moves ahead, details will be available on the Spring 2025 Commencement webpage. There will be many opportunities to ask questions and engage so that everyone knows what to expect and how they can participate in making this first university-wide commencement a great Ram experience.

Go Rams!

Amy Parsons

President

Marion Underwood

Provost and Executive Vice President