Important Information for Graduating Students 2009–10

Please see Graduation for information on applying to graduate with the Student Administrative Services. This section is about applying to participate in either the fall or spring ceremonies (“walking”).

Naropa University holds a Commencement in spring (May) and a Ceremony to Honor Graduates (December) every year. Information about both is available in this section. If you are participating in either of the ceremonies, please fill out the appropriate ‘Application to Walk’ (ATW) form below.

Commencement in spring is a larger and more elaborate ceremony held at Macky Auditorium. The ceremony to Honor Graduates in fall is a smaller, more intimate gathering held on Naropa campus.

Students who are 3 credits or less from completing their degree may participate (“walk”) in these ceremonies. Some students who graduate in the fall participate in both the fall and spring ceremonies.

If you are graduating, please note that there are two separate procedures:

Completing your degree requirements, and applying to graduate. This is done with the Student Administrative Services (SAS)’s office: Please check graduation.

1. Applying to participate in spring Commencement or the fall Ceremony to Honor Graduates. This is done through the office of Student Affairs. Please see details below.
2. You may graduate and choose not to walk, in which case you only need to look after completing your degree requirements (1, above). If you are graduating AND planning to walk, please complete both procedures 1 and 2.
   

Frequently Asked Questions

Commencement

What if I don’t want to participate in Commencement?

It is your choice to participate or not in spring Commencement of fall Ceremony to Honor Graduates. It is not required in order to graduate.

Can I participate if I completed my degree in the fall or I won’t complete it until the end of summer?

If you completed your degree in the fall, you can walk in the spring commencement ceremony. If you are three (3) credits or less from completing your degree requirements at the time of Commencement, you may participate in the ceremony.

What is the difference between the fall Ceremony to Honor Graduates and spring Commencement?

While students at Naropa may graduate in spring, fall or the summer, Naropa holds only one Commencement which is in the spring (month of May, end of spring semester). There is also a smaller, less elaborate ‘ceremony’ to ‘honor fall graduates’. This is not a Commencement ceremony like in the spring, which is longer, larger and more elaborate. There is a small Reception after the ceremony in fall.

The fall ceremony will typically be held on Naropa campus, is attended by 100 to 150 people, and lasts about 1.5 hours. The spring commencement ceremony is typically held at Macky Auditorium (CU campus), is attended by about 1800 people, is an elaborate ceremony and lasts about 3 hours. This ceremony is preceded by the president’s luncheon. There is also no ‘guest commencement speaker’ at this ceremony as there is the spring. Also, faculty does not process in, and sashes (in place of gowns and caps) are not worn, in the fall ceremony.

Application to Walk in 2009 Fall Ceremony to Honor Graduates

Check list for participating in Spring 2010 Commencement

Application to Walk in Spring 2010 Commencement