GRADUATE SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT

The Graduate School Commencement Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 8, 2026, 4:00 p.m. at the Alfond Arena.

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

Guest Information

Faculty Information

COmmencement Day:
Details for Graduates

live stream link

The Graduate Commencement Ceremony will be available via livestream
on Friday, May 8, 2026

watch livestream here

2026 Commencement Speaker

STAY TUNED!

Watch this space for updates about the commencement speaker as they become available.

important dates and deadlines for May Graduates

Additional deadlines will 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 25 – Grad Fair from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
MARCH 13 – Deadline to order rental doctoral regalia. You must secure doctoral regalia in order to participate in the Commencement ceremony. Available for pickup on or around May 1.

April

APRIL 10 – Last day to schedule an oral thesis/dissertation defense.
APRIL 17 – Last day to submit the tentative thesis and completed tentative thesis acceptance form/statement.
APRIL 24 – 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 1 – Last day to submit the final thesis and completed Final Thesis Acceptance Form
MAY 8 – Hearty Maine Farewell, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
MAY 8 – Graduate School Commencement Ceremony will be held in the Alfond Arena at 4:00 p.m., doors open at 3:00 p.m.
Students to report to the Field House by 3:00 p.m.
Faculty to report to the academic success room of the Field House to line up by 3:00 p.m.
Stage Party to report to the Alfond lounge by 3:00 p.m.

ordering regalia

Regalia Color Guide

Master’s, CAS, & EdS Regalia

Master’s Cap & Gown

$52.99

MASTER’S / CAS / EDS HOOD

$42.99

Master’s regalia available at the bookstore starting March 25, and on the bookstore website thereafter.

doctoral Regalia

Both types of tam are for you to keep.

Gown & Hood with Custom-sized Tam

$304.88

Gown & Hood with one-size Tam

$171.95

Rent your doctoral regalia by March 13

If you would like to purchase a custom gown, hood, and tam for $1,252.95, 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 they have completed all of the following items.

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

Apply to Graduate through Student Records

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

Notice of Oral Examination Form

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

Successfully present and orally defend the dissertation by April 24. Committee members must sign the Final Thesis Acceptance Form at the defense.

Final Thesis Acceptance Form

Submit a copy of the Final Thesis Acceptance Form demonstrating an affirmative vote of the Committee to the Graduate School at graduate@maine.edu by MAY 1. 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.

Final Thesis Acceptance Form

File for Graduation

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

Apply to graduate

Notice of Oral Examination

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

Notice of Oral Exam

Submit Your Tentative Dissertation

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

Defend by April 24

Successfully present and orally defend the dissertation by April 24. Committee members must sign the Final Thesis Acceptance Form at the defense.

final thesis acceptance form

Submit the Final Thesis Acceptance Form by May 1

Submit a copy of the Final Thesis Acceptance Form by May 1st 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

Commencement Day: Details for Graduates

Graduate candidates must pre-register to participate in ceremonies. There is no marching rehearsal, so be sure to follow all staff instructions for line-up, marching, and hooding on the day of the ceremony.

Arriving at the Ceremony

Arrive at the field house by 3:00 p.m. and check in with the Graduate Commencement staff to obtain your white reader card.

Bring or wear your regalia (cap and gown)
Bring the hood for your discipline with you and drape it over your left arm
The tassel on your cap should be to the left

The University is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

At Line-up

Obtain your white reader card with your name, degree, and advisor
Master’s/CAS/EdS graduates will line up with their college
Doctoral candidates will line up with the other doctoral candidates

We begin marching at 3:50 p.m. If the ceremony has already begun when you arrive, find an usher to escort you to a seat. Once the ceremony begins, University staff will indicate when to go on stage.

During the Ceremony

University staff will indicate when to go on stage
Take the white reader card and your hood with you on stage, leaving your personal belongings and program at your seat
Hand the white reader card to the reader
Walk to the hooding area and present your hood
Proceed to pick up your diploma and then continue off stage
Return to your seat as directed by the university staff
Remain seated for the remainder of the ceremony out of courtesy to your fellow graduates

After the Ceremony

The UMaine bookstore will be on site with memorabilia and gifts available for purchase.

Guide to Academic Regalia

Please be sure that the hood you have obtained from the bookstore matches the color associated with your degree.

Questions? Email the Graduate School

Bookstore Website

CAS/EdS (Education) – Light Blue
CAS (Nursing) – Golden Yellow
Doctor of Education – Light Blue
Doctor of Philosophy – Dark Blue
Master of Arts – White
Master of Arts in Teaching – White
Master of Business Administration – Drab
Master of Education – Light Blue
Master of Engineering – Orange

Master of Fine Arts – Dark Brown
Master of Forestry – Russet
Master of Music – Pink
Master of Professional Studies – Golden Yellow
Master of Science – Golden Yellow
Master of Science in Teaching – Golden Yellow
Master of Social Work – Citron
Master of Wildlife Conservation – Golden Yellow
Professional Science Master’s – Golden Yellow

golden yellow color swatch — Golden Yellow

Faculty Information

All students, including doctoral candidates, will have their diplomas awarded at the ceremony.

Faculty Regalia & Attendance Form

Faculty Attendance Confirmation

Faculty must complete the Faculty Regalia & Attendance Form by March 13 if they plan on attending the May 8 Commencement ceremony. Regalia must be worn at all Commencement ceremonies. Reserved regalia may be picked up in the Bookstore beginning in early May. For information on the undergraduate Commencement ceremonies, please go to umaine.edu/commencement.

Any faculty requiring special seating accommodation should contact Kathleen Harding-Heber by emailing kathleen.hardingheber@maine.edu no later than May 1st.

Faculty Instructions

Watch this space for more detailed instructions on where to report before the ceremony. There is no rehearsal for Commencement ceremonies, so please be sure to follow instructions for the line-up, marching, etc. on the day of the ceremony.

Executive Committee Members will report to the volunteer staff to lead the student line for each college. College Deans will report to the volunteer staff to walk with the stage party. Faculty hooding doctoral candidates will report to the volunteer staff assisting with the faculty procession to be lined up in hooding order.

Doctoral Candidate Eligibility

Doctoral candidates graduating in August may participate in Commencement ceremonies if they meet ALL of the following requirements:

File for graduation in MaineStreet
Submit a Notice of Oral Examination to the Graduate School (2 weeks prior to the defense)
Submit a tentative dissertation to the Graduate School at least 24 hours prior to the defense
Successfully present and orally defend the dissertation by April 24. Committee members must sign the Final Thesis Acceptance Form at the defense
Submit a copy of the Final Thesis Acceptance Form demonstrating an affirmative vote of the Committee. The original form must accompany the final dissertation with the other required doctoral forms

Parking & Directions
Seating
Venue & More

ADA Accessibility

Contact Erica Tweedie, Director of Student Accessibility Services, with any ADA accessibility accommodation requests, including to request an ASL interpreter, before May 2 at erica.tweedie@maine.edu or 207.581.2319.

Please contact Kathleen Harding-Heber if you have additional accessibility questions via email at kathleen.hardingheber@maine.edu or via phone: 207.581.3289.

Attendance Policies

Smoking – The University of Maine campus is a non-smoking facility. All seating areas are classified as non-smoking. The Alfond Arena does not having a smoking section. It is prohibited to smoke anywhere inside the Alfond Arena.

Do not approach the stage – For safety reasons, no one besides credentialed photographers and staff may approach the stage for any reason.

Live Streaming

For those who cannot physically attend, the event will be viewable through a live stream feed

Parking & Directions

More info to come

Seating

Graduate School Commencement guest tickets are not required for guests to attend Commencement. Seating is general admission. Ushers will be available if guests have any questions. Doors open at 3:00 p.m.

Venue & More

More info to come.

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May 1 Deadline

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