Commencement Weekend Information
Rehearsal
Attendance at Commencement Rehearsal is mandatory for all graduates. (Friday, May 16, at 1:30 p.m. in front of Palmer Hall.)
Luncheon Gala and Graduation Dance
Graduating seniors, families, and friends will join together in celebration of the Class of 2008 with a special Luncheon Gala on Saturday, May 17, at 12:30 p.m. at the Antlers Hilton. Later, everyone will return to the hotel to dance the night away from
9 p.m. - 1 a.m. Business casual attire (no jeans or shorts) for the lunch, and a coat and tie for the dance. Advance reservations are required for lunch as we have a limited number of tickets. The official invitation for Commencement will be sent in mid-March and you will have an opportunity to order your tickets at that time. Registration for the Luncheon and Dance is now closed. Please click here for more information.
*For questions please contact Caitlin Fennell.
Baccalaureate
The Baccalaureate service will be on Sunday, May 18, at 3 p.m. in Shove Chapel. Because of limited seating in the chapel, each graduating senior will be given only two tickets for family. All seats are on a first-come, first-served basis. Friends and relatives who do not have tickets may hear the ceremony from the lawn outside Shove Chapel, where seats will be set up, or watch a live telecast in Armstrong Theater. Baccalaureate lasts one hour.
Commencement Exercises
On Monday, May 19, at 8:30 a.m., the procession will leave the hallowed halls of Palmer Hall and parade onto Armstrong Quadrangle. All family members and friends are invited to attend. Seats are on a first-come, first-served basis, but there will be plenty of room for all. If you need to be seated near a sign language interpreter, please ask an usher at the event. Complimentary coffee will be provided. Restrooms are located in Armstrong Hall and Shove Chapel. The ceremony ends by 11:30 a.m. The President's Reception for graduates and their families follows immediately on the quadrangle. The Commencement speaker is Billy Collins, Poet Laureate . The college plans to do a live webcast of the Monday commencement ceremonies at www.ColoradoCollege.edu/commencement.
In the Unlikely Event of Rain or Snow
Commencement would be held at the Colorado Springs World Arena. President Celeste will decide by 6:15 a.m. if the ceremony is to be moved and will inform the campus operators. Details will be broadcast on KRCC radio (91.5 FM). The President's Reception would be held on campus in the Worner Center.
Tickets
When graduating seniors pick up their cap and gowns at the bookstore, they will sign for two tickets for Baccalaureate. Pre-ordered Lunch and Dance tickets will be available on Thursday, May 15, at the Tutt Alumni House, NE corner of Cascade and Uintah (1205 N. Cascade Ave). Pre-registration is now closed. Lunch and dance tickets are limited and will be available for purchase through the official Commencement invitation that goes out in mid-March.
Pictures
At Commencement there is an area on the south side of the stage for parents to come up and take pictures of their graduate. A professional photographer will photograph each graduate receiving his/her diploma. The photographer will send proofs and order forms to the graduate's home address for purchase. There also will be a class picture taken at 2:00 p.m. before Baccalaureate that will be available for purchase in advance at the bookstore.
Parking
There are a number of parking areas within a block or two of the campus. The closest parking lots to the ceremonies are Armstrong lot (between Armstrong Hall and Slocum Hall, which is reserved for handicap parking), and Mathias Hall lot (next to the residence hall on Uintah Street).
Travel Arrangements
There are many hotels with a range of costs within a few miles of the college. Additional information regarding the area hotels may be found by calling the Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 888-4748, or visit the CC lodging page. On Campus dorms are also available for families as a low-cost alternative; reserve your room or call Brenda Soto at (719) 389-6900 for inquires.
General Information
Colorado College is nestled at the foot of Pikes Peak, just over 6,000 feet above sea level. Some may experience tiredness, shortness of breath or headaches due to the elevation. Drinking extra water is recommended to alleviate some of these symptoms. The sun's rays are also stronger at this elevation so sunscreen and hats are advised. Commencement day may be warm and sunny or cool and rainy. However, the days are generally pleasant, while evenings are cool and may require a jacket. Colorado often has afternoon rain showers, hence an early morning graduation. Layered clothing is always the best choice.
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