The UNE Online Team is excited you are planning to attend your commencement ceremonies.

Please take a few moments to review this page for important details about your College of Professional Studies graduation ceremonies.
If you need to RSVP or change your current RSVP, click here.

College Commencement Ceremony
We are excited that so many of you are attending the College of Professional Studies Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 17, at 5pm. The ceremony will be in Innovation Hall on the Portland campus (map). Address for GPS: 716 Stevens Avenue, Portland Maine 04103.

Arrival
While the event starts at 5pm, graduates must check in by 4:30pm. We encourage a 4pm arrival to ensure enough time to park, check-in, line-up and get guests seated. Parking is available throughout the Portland campus, and the Bishop Street Park & Ride lot provides a free shuttle every 10 minutes. Note: We cannot guarantee that late arrivals can participate in the ceremony.

Check-In
Graduate check-in and line-up will be in the large 2nd floor classroom of Innovation Hall. (There is an elevator for those needing it.) Upon check-in, you will receive your:

• Lineup card for the ceremony
• Name tag
• Commencement tickets for Saturday’s university-wide commencement
• Regalia (Ed.D. graduates with advance orders ONLY)
• If applicable: Recognition and/or Military cords (if requested in advance)
• Please note: there is no secure storage for personal belongings.

Regalia
You will need your commencement regalia (including hood) for Friday’s college ceremony. The gown will be worn and the hood will be draped over your left arm. Graduates with cords, military cords, and stoles should wear them. Please do not bring your cap or tassel to the Friday ceremony.

• Masters and CAGS participants may purchase regalia from the UNE bookstore beginning April 2024. You may call them at (207) 221-4255.
• Ed.D. participants will pick up their pre-ordered regalia upon College Ceremony check-in.
• The UNE Bookstore will be open until 5pm on Friday, May 17. The bookstore is located in Alexander Hall and offers a variety of UNE gear.

What to expect at Friday’s College of Professional Studies Commencement Ceremony
Graduates will process into the ceremony. After reaching the reserved seats, graduates will remain standing until all remaining graduates are in place. After messages of welcome and congratulations, each graduate will be called to the stage to have their masters or doctoral hood symbolically placed on their regalia.

Reception
A reception featuring light food, drink, and live music will follow the ceremony on the Portland Campus Quad. A cash (only) bar will be available for all attendees.

Snap & Share!
Social media lover? Snap and share your pictures of the commencement events and your time in Portland on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and/or Snapchat! Use the hashtags #UNEGrad24 and #UNEOnlineGrad.

University Commencement:
The university-wide ceremony is on Saturday, May 18, at 10am. Plan to arrive at the Cross Insurance Arena at 8:45 a.m. to allow yourself enough time to park and get to the line-up area. YOU MUST BE IN THE ARENA, DRESSED IN FULL REGALIA (including cap/tam) AND READY TO GO AT 9:00 A.M. Address for GPS: 1 Civic Center Square, Portland, Maine 04101.

Expect crowds and a chaotic environment. College of Professional Studies (UNE Online) graduates will enter the Cross Insurance Arena from the Free Street side (north side) of the building (see attached photo of entrance). Family and guests will proceed to the main entrances. Main doors of the Arena will be open for family and guests at 9:00 a.m. Please do not bring any large bags.

Once you arrive there will be signs and staff to assist in directing you. Please proceed to the area for CPS students and remain in that area. You will march with your academic program and College. Note: The line-up area is not secure. Do not leave bags or other valuables unattended during the ceremony.

When you “march” in, faculty marshals will be in the aisle to assist you with seating. Please move quickly across the row and to your seat. It may look like there is not enough seats in the row, but trust the faculty marshal assisting – you will have a seat! At the close of the ceremony, students will remain at their seats until the platform party and faculty recess out of the Arena. At that point, the lights in the Arena will come up and students will be free to disperse and reconnect with their families.

For all ceremonies:
The Commencement ceremonies are a very special time for graduates as well as their families and friends alike. We would like to respect the privilege of each participant to experience his or her graduation without distraction. To that end, we would ask that graduates and guests refrain from any disruptive activities, and request that cell phones be silenced during ceremonies. Alcohol, smoking, weapons, and pets are prohibited at the ceremonies.

Portland Guide
The UNE Online team has created a Portland Guide just for you! We hope this helps you make the best of your visit to Portland, Maine!

Join the party from home!
Can’t make it? We will be live-streaming the ceremony! Access the link at www.une.edu just prior to the events. Celebrate virtually with your peers via social media by using hashtags #UNEGrad24 and #UNEOnlineGrad!