Graduate School Commencement to award diplomas for all candidates for advanced degrees on May 8

The University of Maine’s Graduate School Commencement Ceremony will be held on May 8 at 4 p.m. in Harold Alfond Sports Arena. New to the ceremony this year: All candidates for advanced degrees, including doctoral candidates, will receive their hoods and have their degrees conferred during the Friday afternoon ceremony.

All graduate students interested in participating should apply to graduate for their respective graduation term in MaineStreet by Feb. 1. Additional information will be made available on the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony website.

Guest tickets are not required. All participating graduate students are encouraged to invite as many family and friends to attend as they would like. A live stream will be made available for those with friends and families not able to attend in person.

The Graduate School ceremony has evolved in recent years to better accommodate the graduate student community and the growing number receiving graduate degrees. While the doctoral candidates have traditionally been recognized at the Friday ceremony, 2020 is the first year they also will receive their diplomas on Friday afternoon.

“We are delighted to provide world-class graduate education at Maine’s flagship university, and look forward to conferring degrees to a record number of our graduate students who have been prepared well for professional success and rewarding careers,” says Kody Varahramyan, Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School.

The University of Maine conferred its first master’s degree in 1881. Since that time, graduate offerings have expanded significantly to include the current selection of over 130 areas of study in graduate certificates, master’s, education specialists, Certificate of Advanced Studies, and doctoral options.

More information about the Graduate School is available online.