UMPI’s Graduation Ceremony

GET INFO ABOUT the Virtual Graduation Ceremony

Congratulations, Class of 2026!

You’ve made it! After all the hard work, you’re finally ready to graduate and celebrate with family and friends. 

Commencement Hat Toss

Our students come from near and far and earn their degrees through various modalities, be it on campus here in Presque Isle or further afield through our traditional online and YourPace programs. Whether you’re planning to join us for the in-person Commencement this May or in one of our Virtual Graduation ceremonies, this page will help you find what you need to mark the incredible milestone.

Choose Your Graduation

At UMPI, we offer several options for our graduating students: our in-person Commencement Exercises in May and two Virtual Graduation ceremonies (Spring and Fall), the latter of which premiere on UMPI’s YouTube channel. 

You may choose to participate in the in-person Commencement regardless of whether you are a YourPace, online, or in-person student, so long as you apply for graduation by your specified due date. Watch this video for more information on how to apply for graduation.

If you decide to not march in-person, you’re invited to take part in our Spring or Fall Virtual Graduation ceremony. Which ceremony you participate in will depend on when you apply for graduation during the academic year. Visit this page for more information on our Virtual Graduation ceremony.

Upcoming Graduation Ceremonies

In-person CommencementVirtual Graduation 
Saturday, May 9Saturday, June 6
Morning Ceremony: 10 a.m., Afternoon Ceremony: 2:30 p.m.10 a.m. Eastern Time
Wieden GymnasiumUMPI’s YouTube Channel

IN-PERSON OPTION

Our in-person 117th Commencement Ceremonies will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 10 AM (College of Professional Programs) and 2:30 PM (College of Arts and Sciences, University-wide Programs) in Wieden Gymnasium and will be streamed live on UMPI’s YouTube Channel. Here are direct links to the morning ceremony livestream and afternoon ceremony livestream (links coming soon). 

View this degree listing to determine which ceremony you should attend. 

Please keep the following in mind while making plans to march in our 2026 Commencement:
  • If you are a double major, please contact the Office of Student Records at umpireg@maine.edu to designate which cohort you will march with; your other degree will be acknowledged at that time. 
  • If you are earning a Master’s degree and a Bachelor’s degree, you will march with your Master’s program cohort and your Bachelor’s degree will be acknowledged at that time. This also applies to those receiving both a Bachelor’s and Associate’s degree.
  • Please choose your ceremony based on your degree major, not your minor. For example, if you are a Bachelor of Liberal Studies major, you will be marching at 2:30 p.m. no matter what minors are attached to your degree. 
  • If you picked the wrong ceremony time, please reach out to Cam Jones at cameron.jones@maine.edu.

Event Schedule

Note: This schedule only applies to students marching at our in-person Commencement in May. Visit this page for more information on how to take part in our spring Virtual Graduation ceremony on June 6.

ITEMDEADLINE/DATELINK/FMI/LOCATION
2026 Grad Portrait SessionsTBD Book Photo Session (link coming soon)
Digital Commencement TicketsWednesday, April 15Details coming soon
Digital Commencement AnnouncementWednesday, April 15PDF and JPG versions to be emailed to all graduates
Commencement DaySaturday, May 9Robing at Kelley Commons (9 a.m. for the 10 a.m. ceremony; 1:30 p.m. for the 2:30 p.m. ceremony)
Commencement Ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Wieden Gymnasium
ReceptionSaturday, May 9Campus Center Multi-Purpose Room, immediately following both ceremonies

Directions to Campus

181 Main Street, Presque Isle, ME 04769

Parking Map

Want to be a Commencement speaker?

Those applying to be the Commencement speaker for the morning or afternoon ceremony must complete this submission form no later than Saturday, March 28. Interviews will take place March 30-April 3, with a final decision to be made by Monday, April 6. FMI: Sarah Coyer, sarah.coyer@maine.edu.   

Cap and Gown Orders

To receive your cap and gown in time for Commencement, orders must be submitted no later than Friday, March 27. Please order through UMPI’s Build-A-Grad website.

Diploma and Transcript Information

The Office of Student Records is now using a new diploma service called Parchment. Once all grades are posted in MaineStreet and degrees have been conferred, the Office of Student Records will upload the diploma information to Parchment. Parchment will then send a confirmation email to the student’s maine.edu address with the digital diploma attached. The student must verify their mailing address with Parchment before the hard copy diploma can be released for mailing.

A student can always get a copy of their unofficial transcript via their MaineStreet Student Center. For an official transcript, visit our transcript request webpage and follow the instructions.

Alumni Frames and University Merchandise

Diploma frames and an assortment of University memorabilia are available online at UMPI’s Spirit Store.

Past Commencement Ceremonies

Want to relive memories of graduation? Our past Commencement livestreams and Virtual Graduation ceremonies are available in full on UMPI’s YouTube Channel.

#umpigrad2026

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