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Classes start February 18, 2020!
2020 Commencement Ceremonies
Congratulations graduates! CTU’s 2020 commencement ceremony on May 9th promises to be an exciting time for graduates, guests, faculty and staff. The ceremony will be held in the Bellco Theatre at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.
Friday, May 8, 2020
- Graduates are encouraged to check in at the convention center from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Take photos in front of CTU graduation backdrops, purchase class rings or other commemorative items, and much more!
Saturday, May 9, 2020
- The master’s and doctoral degree/hooding ceremony begins at 9:00 a.m.
- The associate and bachelor’s ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m.
- Students may continue to check in up to an hour before their commencement ceremony.
- Theater doors will open for guests 90 minutes before the ceremony, and seating is not reserved.
If you are a graduating student completing your degree program between June 21, 2019 and June 25, 2020, you will receive an email with instructions on how to register for the ceremony by February. If you do not receive an invitation to register by that time, please contact your Student Success Coach.
2019 Graduation Speaker
Bertice Berry
Sociologist, Best-Selling Author, Comedienne, and Educator
Sociologist Bertice Berry, PhD., a best-selling author and award winning lecturer, has been named Comedian of The Year, Lecturer of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. She has published 11 best-selling books in both fiction and non-fiction and has won numerous awards and accolades for both her writing and presentations.
Berry has had her own nationally syndicated television show and has hosted, interviewed and made numerous television, documentary and radio appearances on a variety of diverse venues including The Tonight Show, Oprah Winfrey, Between The Lions, Crossfire, 20-20, NPR, PBS and Comedy Central and CNN.
Berry has used her unique gifts and talents as a writer and ghost writer for others on a wide range of topics including race and gender issues, sociological studies, stratification, healthcare reform, humor, spirituality, sexuality, slavery and the abolitionist movement, weight loss and wellness, relationships, servant leadership, transformational leadership, diversity and love.
Berry has led parades, had classrooms named after her and has been awarded over 10 honorary doctorates. She earned her own doctoral degree from Kent State University at the age of 26 and still sees her most fulfilling achievement and role in life as that of mother to her 5 adopted children.
“If you ain’t dead, you ain’t done,” a character in one of Berry’s novels says.
Berry believes that every one of us has been given a unique purpose and it is our obligation to find it and use it to improve first our own self and then for those we live and work with.
Inside the Colorado Convention Center/Bellco Theatre
Guest Admittance
CTU will hold two different ceremonies on May 9th, providing the opportunity to accommodate most guests. Guest tickets will not be necessary. Instead, seating will be first-come, first served on the day of the ceremony. Doors will open one hour before the start of each ceremony. Saving seats is not permitted. Parties should enter together. In the unlikely event that the 5,000-seat Bellco Theatre reaches capacity, some guests may not be admitted due to local safety regulations. A live stream of each ceremony will be available in Lobby D.
Accessibility
The Colorado Convention Center provides accessibility throughout. Please have a friend or family member available to help guests who might need additional assistance. CTU will provide golf cart and wheelchair services from two access points according to the schedule below:
Friday, July 12
| Friday, May 8, 2020 | Schedule | Access Point #1 | Access Point #2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golf Cart Service | Continuous service between 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM | Between lobbies A and F of the Colorado Convention Center* near the UPS Store (located off of 14th Street) | CTU’s Graduation Registration Desk (located in the D Lobby of the Colorado Convention Center*) |
| Wheelchair Service | Continuous service between 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM | Lobby D of the Colorado Convention Center* (located off of Stout Street near the West Shuttle Drop-Off) | CTU’s Graduation Registration Desk (located in the D Lobby of the Colorado Convention Center*) |
Saturday, July 13
| Saturday, May 9, 2020 | Schedule | Access Point #1 | Access Point #2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golf Cart Service | Continuous service between 7:00 AM and 4:30 PM | Between lobbies A and F of the Colorado Convention Center* near the UPS Store (located off of 14th Street) | CTU’s Graduation Registration Desk (located in the D Lobby of the Colorado Convention Center*) |
| Wheelchair Service | Continuous service between 7:00 AM and 4:30 PM | Lobby D of the Colorado Convention Center* (located off of Stout Street near the West Shuttle Drop-Off) | CTU’s Graduation Registration Desk (located in the D Lobby of the Colorado Convention Center*) |
*Click here for an interactive map of the Colorado Convention Center and surrounding streets.
ADA Accessible Seating is available for guests of graduates throughout Row 28 of the Bellco Theatre. This seating on the same level as the lobby and is available from all doors. Please have a friend or family member available to help guests who might need additional assistance.
Guests in wheelchairs will have early entrance into the Bellco Theater before doors open to the public. Guests in wheelchairs should come to the front of the line leading to the area where ushers are passing out programs. Please note that mobility-impaired seating is limited. To accommodate those guests that require this seating, we kindly request only one companion sit with each person needing assistance. Transportation assistance will also be available inside Bellco Theatre for those that need it.
Audiovisual
The ceremonies will be amplified through a well-equipped sound system and broadcast on two large video screens. For guests with limited vision, the large screens are best viewed from the back of the theatre.
Service Animals
Properly documented service animals are permitted in the Colorado Convention Center and Bellco Theatre. Please be aware that the theatre could be filled to capacity, and the service animal should remain quietly at or under your seat. A patch of lawn is designated at the corner of 14th Street and Welton Street, outside of Lobby A.
Parking
The Colorado Convention Center is located directly downtown, so there are many options available. If you are planning to drive your own car or decide to rent a car, plan ahead for parking. While parking meters are available, they are often subject to strict time limits. Surface lots and parking garages are available, and rates will vary.
Garage parking is available for a fee at the Colorado Convention Center (enter at the corner of Speer Boulevard and Champa Street). Accessible parking is available on all levels of the Colorado Convention Center parking garage with elevator access to the “D” Lobby. A valid state issued handicapped placard or license plate is required. All disability parking is on a first-come, first served basis.
Pay kiosks are located near the elevators and accept cash and major credit cards. All levels of the garage provide elevator access down to Lobby D and the Bellco Theatre. For more parking information, click here.
Driving Directions
For specific directions to get to the Colorado Convention Center parking garage, please enter your starting address here, and a map and directions will be populated. Please be sure to include your full address, city, state and zip.
Security
Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, animals (except service animals), backpacks, banners, binocular cases, briefcases, camera bags, cans, cinch bags, computer bags, coolers, diaper bags, fanny packs, firearms, flags, glass items, guns, inflated balloons, knives of any size and type, laser pointers, luggage, noisemakers, purses larger than a small clutch, radios, seat cushions with zippers, pockets or compartments, selfie sticks, signs, stun guns, throwing objects, umbrellas (unless threat of rain or raining), and weapons. Items that are medically necessary are evaluated individually. Please silence all cell phones. No outside food or drink is permitted into the Bellco Theatre.
Participation in the graduation ceremony is optional and does not constitute a conferred degree. All academic requirements must be fulfilled before your diploma is shipped to your home address. Please do not register if you do not plan to participate.