Commencement

In the case of bad weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Dearborn Gymnasium at 163 High St., Farmington. Final logistics and timing will be shared as the date approaches. We are fully committed to an outdoor ceremony and will provide prompt updates should any plans need to change.

Any items left at the venue will be brought to campus safety.

Student Caps & Gowns are on sale online through the University Store through March 15. Please contact the university store with any questions or concerns. Honor Cords are available for those who are eligible (GPA of 3.5 and above) and can be picked up with your cap and gown.

Staff and Faculty can place regalia rental orders online through March 15.

Each Commencement ceremony will typically run about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. The event will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

Your 2026 UMF Commencement Rehearsal will be on Thursday, May 7th, from 5 – 7 pm. The location will be Narrow Gauge Cinema. If it rains, the location will be the Dearborn Gymnasium.  We expect all graduates to attend, as you will receive your name card and get to see how your ceremony will take place. Please arrange your schedule to make this date.

Parking for Commencement will be available on a first-come / first-served basis for UMF lots along Front Street, including expanded sections in Lot 18 and 274 Front Street (the location of the new Sweatt-Winter Childcare Center). Others will need to park elsewhere on campus and walk to the theater. See campus map.

Please complete the ADA Accessibility Parking Pass Form  or contact the Commencement Committee for additional information: umfcommencement@maine.edu.

Yes, our professional photography team will be on-site to capture the day, so there will be plenty of opportunities for photos. You can view and download photos from commencement on the UMF Commencement 2026 Flickr Album. Most photos will be uploaded the day of the event and the album will be accessible for up to a year.

Academic departments and sports teams are encouraged to make their own arrangements in advance of Commencement to take staged group pictures after the ceremony has ended.

Your diploma, along with a printed copy of the final Commencement Program, will be mailed to you in July or August after you have fulfilled all degree requirements and the Registrar has completed a final review. During the Commencement ceremony, you will receive an empty embossed diploma holder for use in the ceremony and photos.

Your degree will be posted to your academic transcript after final review is done by the Registrar. At that time, you may request an official transcript through your MaineStreet Student Center by selecting Transcript Request and choosing the option to Hold for Degree Conferred. Transcript requests are processed after degree clearance and will only be issued if there are no holds or outstanding balances on your account. Transcripts may also be requested in writing with your signature.

If you need proof of graduation before diplomas are mailed, you may request a letter verifying your graduation application and, once complete, your degree conferral.

You should confirm or update your name and mailing address in MaineStreet to ensure proper delivery of your diploma.

For questions, transcript requests, diploma information, address changes, or degree verification, contact Sue Enman at 207-778-7243 or enman@maine.edu.

After your degree is awarded, the UMF Field Services Office will recommend you for certification in your subject area on the Maine Department of Education (DOE) online database, MEIS.

You will receive an email with detailed instructions on the steps to follow to apply for certification. Early Childhood Education B-5 only students should consult with their advisor.