People attending the University of Colorado at Boulder commencement ceremony May 8 at 8:30 a.m. at Folsom Field will join a projected crowd of about 20,000 and should plan an early arrival to avoid traffic congestion.
Stadium gates will open at 7 a.m. for seating. No tickets are required for the ceremony, which will be held at Folsom Field regardless of the weather.
People traveling to campus for Friday's commencement may encounter delays due to heavy traffic and road construction, according to university officials. People driving into Boulder are asked to avoid Colorado Avenue between Foothills Parkway and 30th Street due to construction and lane restriction.
University officials are providing additional quantities of sanitizing hand gel in various campus locations during the commencement ceremony and at the student breakfast on Norlin Quad before the ceremony. CU has two confirmed cases of A(H1N1) flu, and both students are recovering successfully. Health officials say there is minimal risk to the community. The virus at this point is acting like a regular seasonal virus. Officials suggest that guests spread out in the stands at Folsom Field if they are uncomfortable sitting close to other guests.
Most of the available parking for the ceremony will be in lots off Regent Drive, just south of Colorado Avenue, and parking attendants will be on hand to direct people to the lots. Commencement planners are encouraging people to consider alternatives to driving to campus on Friday morning, if possible.
The access road called Stadium Drive, north of Dal Ward Athletic Center, will be closed to all traffic between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on May 9 for the graduation procession.
More information about commencement parking is available on the Web at .