May 4th, 2024: Class of 2024 Commencement Ceremony

Commencement 2024 will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 9am until approximately 12pm.

We are planning to hold an in-person ceremony for the Class of 2024 as scheduled. If you plan to attend the Commencement ceremony, please plan to participate for the full three hour duration. The Cross Insurance Arena will open at 7:30am for graduates and guests.

Apply to Graduate before the March 1st deadline.

If you are a graduating senior and wish to participate in the 2024 celebration, it’s important that you apply to graduate on MaineStreet.

You can also print and complete an Application for Completion and submit it via email or drop it off at Enrollment Services.


Class of 2024 Networking Events

The events & dates will be posted as Commencement approaches.

April 20th-May 3rd, 2024: Celebration Events

April 24th – Disability Services Center Graduation Brunch, 11AM-1PM, Location TBA

April 25th – LGBTQIA+ & Intercultural Graduation Reception Event, 4PM-6PM, Portland Diversity Center, McGoldrick Center
LGBTQIA+ Event – 4PM-5PM
Intercultural Event – 5PM-6PM

April 25th – Veterans Graduation Ceremony, 5PM-6:30PM, Location TBA

April 25th – GRAD & Gratitude Celebration hosted by the Promise Scholarship, 6PM, 2nd floor of the McGoldrick Center, Portland

April 26th – Leadership Gala, 5PM-8:30PM, Abromson Community Education Center, Portland

April 29th-May 3rdClass of ‘24 Week, hosted by Student Engagement and Leadership (SEAL)

May 2nd – Class of 2024 Champagne Reception, 5PM-7PM, McGoldrick Center, Portland

More events & dates will be posted as Commencement approaches.


University of Southern Maine Honorary Degrees

The University of Southern Maine is proud to recognize individuals for their accomplishments, advancements, and impact on the State of Maine by awarding Honorary Degree’s at the spring Commencement Ceremony.

If you would like to submit an individual for nomination please complete this University of Southern Maine Nomination Form. A separate nomination form should be used for each nominee and be accompanied by a nomination letter.

View the list of prior honorary degree recipients.

Board of Trustees Policy Statement

Last Revised: 06/06/05:

Honorary degrees are subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. Honorary degrees may be conferred by any university of the University of Maine System to persons of notable achievement in an academic field, the arts and letters, the professions, or public service. All nominees will be expected to have some connection with the State of Maine, except in the case of certain internationally and nationally known persons.

Candidates for honorary degrees may be nominated by Trustees, Chancellor, Presidents, or private citizens. Approved nominations from an institution shall be awarded as a degree from that institution. There shall also be a University of Maine System degree. Nominations for the system degree may come from Trustees, Chancellor or Presidents with the Trustees designating the institution for conferring the degree.

In developing nominations it is understood that honorary degrees shall not be conferred on faculty or staff within the University of Maine System until their employment with the institution has ended or on Trustees until five years after their retirement from the Board; nor awarded to local or state government officials during their terms of office, nor awarded posthumously or in absentia. Normally, an individual shall not receive more than one honorary degree from the University of Maine System or its Universities in a five year period. And, lastly, commencement speakers shall not be automatically nominated to receive an honorary degree, nor should nominees be contacted prior to the Board’s consideration.

Action on honorary degree nominations shall be taken at the January Board meeting.