CU-Boulder prepares to welcome thousands to Folsom Field for in-person commencement ceremony

For the first time in three years, the University of Colorado Boulder on Thursday will welcome thousands of students, families and employees to Folsom Field to recognize the nearly 9,000 students graduating.

“I am excited that our students and their families will be able to join together with our faculty and staff to celebrate the many achievements of the class of 2022,” said CU Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano in a news release.

The gates of Folsom Field will open at 7 a.m. Thursday, and anyone who plans on attending should be at the stadium before the student procession begins at 8:15 a.m., CU Boulder officials said.

Colorado Avenue will be closed through the morning, and additional traffic should be expected on U.S. 36, Foothills Parkway, 28th Street and Broadway.

All campus parking lots will be open for public parking. Parking on campus, including at parking meters and pay station lots, will be free for the day and on recognition ceremonies days.

A free shuttle will also be available at various locations to bring people to Folsom Field. Parking lots compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards are also available on campus. More information on parking is available at bit.ly/3vSZuZN.

Security screenings will be in place, and anyone attending the event must carry items in a clear bag, CU officials said. The only bags allowed are bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed one gallon. More information about stadium access can be found at bit.ly/3vVTH5s.

The Thursday ceremony will honor fall 2021 and spring and summer 2022 graduates, including 6,722 bachelor’s degree candidates, 1,502 master’s degree candidates, 188 law degree candidates and 385 doctoral degree candidates.

CU Boulder spokesperson Andrew Sorensen said commencement takes months of preparation and involves many staff and volunteers from around the campus community, including faculty, events staff and public safety personnel. He said CU Boulder regularly hosts about 20,000 visitors in addition to about 8,000 graduates for the spring commencement ceremony.

“Commencement recognizes and celebrates students’ academic achievement while inspiring them to go forth and positively impact humanity,” Sorensen wrote an email. “We are ecstatic that public health conditions will allow our first in-person commencement since 2019, featuring CU Boulder alumnus and NBC News correspondent Tom Costello as the commencement speaker.”

CU Boulder announced Costello as its keynote speaker in February. He is an award-winning journalist and Washington correspondent for NBC News. He grew up in Centennial and graduated from CU Boulder with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism in 1987. He also has a master’s degree in administration and international commerce from Boston University’s Graduate Center in Brussels, Belgium.

Many other smaller graduation ceremonies are also planned for this week, including the CU Law School graduation, in which Gov. Jared Polis will provide the keynote speech. More information on other ceremonies can be found at bit.ly/39smdnU.