May

Graduation by the (good) numbers

Read on to find out who makes up the diverse class of 2018 spring Roadrunner graduates.

May 2, 2018

In the second Commencement since assuming her new post last August, University President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., this month will welcome a new class of Roadrunner graduates to the alumni family.

The spring semester’s graduation will see an estimated 1,586 bachelor’s graduates and 171 students completing master’s degrees; among the latter, 104 are in social work, 42 in teaching and 19 in accountancy.

This semester’s graduating class includes 577 students of color, led by 337 Latinx students. The spring 2018 class includes 30 ASSET graduates.

MSU Denver’s spring graduates range in age from 18-year-old computer-science major Alexander Jones to 67-year-old music major Vincent Collins. Consistent with national higher-education trends, women continue to outpace men, representing 57 percent of the graduates.

Transfer students make up 67 percent, and veterans comprise 6 percent of the graduating class. Thirty-three percent of graduates are first-generation students, and 27 percent secured STEM-focused degrees.

The graduates’ top five majors in order are psychology; biology; criminal justice and criminology; accounting; and management. Some 142 students are seeking teacher licensure.

The Denver Coliseum will host the 9 a.m. ceremony for the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the School of Education, and for a 3 p.m. ceremony for the College of Business and the College of Professional Studies. Master’s graduates will participate in the ceremony that corresponds with their college of study.

Davidson will give welcoming remarks and introduce Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Commencement speaker, Gayle Lemmon, at the two ceremonies.

Check out this previous Early Bird story for tips on making the most of your Commencement attendance.