Commencement Ceremony FAQ

Commencement is the ceremony celebrating students who are scheduled to complete their degrees and/or certificates for a given term.

Graduation occurs when you have completed all of the requirements for a degree or certificate. Attending commencement is optional and not required in order to graduate.

Even if you have met all requirements for graduation, you won't receive your official diploma(s) at commencement. This is because of the time required at the end of each semester to review all graduation applications to ensure that all graduation requirements are met.

See the Graduation page for information about important graduation deadlines and the timeline for receiving any diplomas or certificates you've earned.

Each ceremony lasts approximately 60-90 minutes. 

Aims officially graduates students three times per year, after each semester (fall, spring and summer).

However, Aims commencement ceremonies are held twice per year, at the end of the fall and spring semesters.

• Fall commencement: fall graduates
• Spring commencement: spring and summer graduates 

For more information, see the graduation page.

The next commencement ceremonies will be held at the end of the spring 2024 semester.

Friday, May 10, 2024
11 a.m. Arts & Sciences/Business Technology
3 p.m. Allied Health/Public Safety & Transportation

A current list of programs in each academic division is available on the graduation page (spring ceremonies only).

Prohibited items include:

• Air horns or other loud noisemakers
• Balloons or anything that could obstruct the view of other guests
• Food and beverages except water in clear bottles
• Firearms, knives, and other weapons

A clear bag policy is in effect for Commencement. Each guest is allowed one (1) large clear bag – either the 12” W x 12” H x 6” D clear bag or one-gallon Ziploc style bag – plus one (1) small personal item such as a small clutch or wallet not exceeding 4.5” x 6.5” in size.

Guests will be asked to return prohibited items to their vehicle or otherwise dispose of them upon entry. 

Here's a general overview of the process:

Make sure to submit a Graduation Application for any program you will be completing for the term. Once your application is reviewed, you will receive a graduation status report to your aims.edu email account.

When ceremony registration opens you will receive an email to your aims.edu email account. You must register for the ceremony in order to participate. Registering ensures you receive ceremony details and have a reader card at the ceremony.

If you have any questions, please email gradapp@aims.edu via your aims.edu email only (no D2L or personal accounts).

For detailed graduation information, visit the Registration and Records Department Graduation page.

If you have applied for graduation and are eligible, you will be invited to register to participate in commencement.

Keep an eye on your aims.edu email and watch for an invitation to register. Fill out all of the fields in the commencement registration form and submit.

For the Fall 2023 Commencement Ceremonies, all graduation applications must be submitted and accepted before September 26, 2023 in order to have your name included in the commencement program. Any applications submitted after that deadline will not be included in the program, but the student will be able to participate in their ceremony.

You can request accommodations for the commencement ceremony as part of the ceremony registration process.

No. All Fall graduates will only be invited to attend the Fall ceremony and all Spring & Summer graduates will only be invited to attend one of the Spring ceremonies.

Tickets are required for guests to attend the ceremony. Additional information will be coming soon for students who have registered to attend the ceremony. 

In the event that commencement seating is at capacity, Aims will also offer seating venues within the Welcome Center where guests can watch a livestream of the ceremony.

Cap and Gown Regalia

Only the following are allowed: Gown, cap and black and red tassel: The gown, cap and black and red tassel are yours to keep. Only the black and red tassel OR the PTK gold tassel are allowed. You may wear one or the other but not both at the same time.

Souvenir tassels are not permitted on the cap for the ceremony.

Approved Accessories

The following accessories have been approved for commencement.

Stoles

Automotive Programs    
Identifies Automotive students.

BUENO CAMP    
Identifies scholars in the BUENO CAMP program.

Center for Diversity & Inclusion    
Identifies students who have consistently engaged with the CDI and demonstrated a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as guiding principles and practices for leadership and community building.

Early College Academy    
Identifies graduates of Early College Academy.

Finish What You Started/Transitions Center    
Identifies Finish What You Started graduates.

LULAC
Identifies members of either the Fort Lupton or Greeley chapters of LULAC at Aims.

NSLS
Identifies students who have completed the Foundations of Leadership program through NSLS.

Nursing    
Indicates successful completion of the nursing program.

PTK
Identifies students who are active members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society at Aims.

Student Life Department    
Identifies the Student Life Student Leaders as Student Government Association and Campus Activities Program Board members.

Women in Aviation
Identifies students who have been members for at least a year and served on the WIA leadership committee. This is in addition to the pin.

Cords

English Honor Society
For active student members of the Aims chapter of Sigma Kappa Delta.

SALUTE Honor Society
For Military Active Duty or Honorably Discharged Veteran students that meet a minimum GPA requirement of 3.5.

Seeds Leadership Program
By completing the Seeds Leadership program students will receive a graduation cord and certificate reflecting their accomplishments and continued dedication to leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Student Nursing Association    
This cord emphasizes the contributions of nursing students that have gone above and beyond to provide service to the community and to the college.

Veterans
For Military Active Duty or Honorably Discharged Veteran students.

Pins

Aims2UNC    
This pin distinguishes graduates in the Aims2UNC program. 

Aims Games Club
For service/membership of the club, completing all the fetch quests, and saving the animals.

Business and CIS Pin
For making a positive impact in the Business and CIS department and classes.

Center for Diversity & Inclusion    
The various pins presented by the Center for Diversity & Inclusion (CDI) represent the diversity within the Aims community, highlighting the strength and value of culture and difference.

Medical Preparation    
This pin sets the Medical Preparation students apart as a closed cohort and honors their hard work in completing this program.

TRIO Student Support Services
Identifies graduating students who have met all the requirements of the TRIO SSS program.

Women In Aviation    
This pin recognizes students that participated in this volunteer organization.

Mortar Board Decorations

Aims welcomes the tasteful decorating of your mortar board. Please be respectful of other graduates that may be sitting behind you. All decorations must be flat to the top of the mortar board. Any decorations that raise the height will not be allowed and will be asked to be removed.

Photos will be taken at the ceremony by a professional photographer. You will receive sample photos and information for ordering photos by mail or e-mail, depending on the information you provide on your card. You are not obligated to purchase any photo packages. Selfies will not be allowed to be taken on the stage area during the ceremony.  

Caps and gowns are available for pickup at the Aims Bookstore in the Student Commons on the Greeley Campus at least one week prior to the ceremony.

Please check the Bookstore hours before stopping by.