CGPS Commencement 2018 – Friday, May 18

Each spring, the College of Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS) holds a special commencement ceremony to honor doctoral and master’s graduates and celebrate the successful completion of their studies.

Sometimes referred to as a “Hooding Ceremony,” this special CGPS-only commencement is not meant to replace the university-wide commencement. Rather, it is a special time to come together to meet fellow students, faculty, program managers and student support specialists for the first time, and celebrate the fact that our graduates have completed this phase of their journey.

What is CGPS Commencement like?

The CGPS Commencement ceremony itself is similar to a graduation in that faculty and students are dressed in academic regalia. There are opening remarks, a keynote speech, and then the graduates are adorned with a ceremonial item that resembles a hood, “…which,” as Dr. Richard Parent said during his hooding demonstration for students, “is about as functional as it is fashionable.”

During the ceremony, the name of each graduate is called, and the graduate crosses to the center of the stage where the Program Manager places the hood over their head. This ‘hooding’ of the graduate symbolizes the graduate’s success in completing the graduate program. The graduate then proceeds across the stage, and the Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies congratulates the graduate.

Those are the mechanics, but the emotions are tremendous. Check out the 2017 Commencement Ceremony and here for the 2016 Commencement Ceremony to see a few glimpses of the ceremonies from years past.

If you couldn’t make it but would like to see the ceremony virtually, we’ve published a recorded version of the day’s events.

Celebrate!

Every year, graduates are welcome to stay afterward and celebrate with us. We always have refreshments and entertainment – and you’ll get to mingle with other grads.

2018 UNE Online Portland City Guide

Click to see full 2018 City Guide and Map

If you come to town for commencement weekend, feel free to check out the 2018 Portland City Guide we assembled for you. CGPS staffers got together and compiled our top recommendations for what visitors should see, eat, drink and do while they are visiting our great little city.

Share your success!

For an easy way to see what people share during the event, follow the hashtags #unegrad and #uneonlinegrad on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

CGPS Commencement is a heartwarming and emotional event. Connections are made, friendships cemented, and milestones met.

It’s a time that UNE sets aside to specifically honor our graduates – we are so, so very proud of them.