GRADUATE SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT

The Graduate School Commencement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to about 9:00 p.m. at the Cross Insurance Center.

Keep an eye on this page for all commencement updates as they become available.

Graduate getting their photo taken with their diploma against a UMaine themed background

live stream link

The Graduate Commencement Ceremony will be available via livestream
on Saturday, May 10, 2025

watch livestream here
Guest Information
Faculty Information
Graduate Candidates: What to expect

2025 Commencement Speaker

Graham Carr

Graham Carr is President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University. Ranked as the top North American University under 50 years old, Concordia’s two Montreal campuses are home to 50,000 students from more than 150 countries.

Carr’s previous leadership positions at Concordia include Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs; Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies; and Dean of Graduate Studies.

Born in Quebec, Carr earned his PhD from the University of Maine and is a Professor in the Department of History. His research focuses on Cold War cultural history.

Graham is a member of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal and the Steering Committee of Montreal Climate Partnership (Partenariat climat Montréal). He currently serves as Chair of the Universities Canada Research Committee and Chair of the Board of U SPORTS, the national brand for university sports in Canada. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Centraide (United Way) of Greater Montreal, the board of the Leadership Council for Digital Infrastructure, as president of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, as chair of the Canada-US Fulbright selection committee, and for many years on the National Capital Commission’s Advisory Committee for Communications, Marketing and Programming.

Portrait of Graham Carr

important dates and deadlines

Additional deadlines may be added as they become available.

February

  • FEBRUARY 1 – Deadline to apply to graduate and be included in the program
  • FEBRUARY 28 – Deadline to order custom doctoral regalia from the bookstore

March

  • MARCH 26 – Grad Fair from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Master’s regalia available at the bookstore today, and on the bookstore website on March 27.
  • MARCH 28 – Deadline to order rental doctoral regalia. You must secure doctoral regalia in order to participate in the Commencement ceremony.

April

  • APRIL 25 – Doctoral candidates who wish to participate in commencement must successfully present and orally defend their dissertation by this date. Committee members must sign the Final Thesis Acceptance Form at the defense.

May

  • MAY 10 – Hearty Maine Farewell: Campus will be open for graduates and visitors to revisit favorite spots, shop at the UMaine Bookstore, and enjoy local eats at a food truck hub on the University Mall. Photographers will be stationed at iconic landmarks from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to capture the excitement. Be sure to check with your department for special send-offs, and stop by the Alumni Welcome Center to grab your grad gift and take alumni-themed photos.
  • MAY 10 – The Graduate School Commencement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to about 9:00 p.m. at the Cross Insurance Center.

ordering regalia

Master’s, CAS, & EdS Regalia

Master’s Cap & Gown

$48.99

MASTER’S / CAS / EDS HOOD

$38.99

Master’s regalia available at the bookstore starting March 26, and on the bookstore website starting March 27.

doctoral Regalia

Both types of tam are for you to keep.

Gown & Hood with Custom-sized Tam

$288.72

Gown & Hood with one-size Tam

$168.78

Rent your doctoral regalia by March 28

If you would like to purchase a custom gown, hood, and tam, please contact Betty Campbell at bettyc@maine.edu or 207-581-1735. All custom regalia orders must be placed before February 28.

DOCTORAL CANDIDATE ELiGIBILITY

Doctoral candidates may participate in Commencement ceremonies if all of the requirements below are met.

File for Graduation

File for graduation through MaineStreet, details available on the Student Records website.

final thesis acceptance form

Notice of Oral Examination

2 Weeks before your defense, a Notice of Oral Examination has been submitted to the Graduate School.

final thesis acceptance form

Submit Your Tentative Dissertation

Submit a tentative dissertation to the Graduate School at least 24 hours prior to your defense.

final thesis acceptance form

Defend by April 25

Successfully present and orally defend the dissertation by April 25. Committee members must sign the Final Thesis Acceptance Form at the defense.

final thesis acceptance form

Submit the Final Thesis Acceptance Form

Submit a copy of the Final Thesis Acceptance Form demonstrating an affirmative vote of the Committee. Students not submitting a final copy of their dissertations by the May deadlines may march at Commencement if they have successfully passed the dissertation defense, but they will officially receive their degrees in August upon completion of remaining requirements.

graduate@maine.edu