Commencement

Commencement Exercises: Where, When, What, and Who

• Commencement is scheduled for Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the Augusta Civic Center. Guests should enter the Civic Center through the main, front doors.
• Commencement Exercises will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m.; the length of Commencement is generally 2 hours. Guests will not be seated once the processional begins (when graduates march into the auditorium); late arrivals must wait until the processional ends.
• Because of the size of the crowd, it is suggested that you make arrangements ahead-of-time to meet your graduate after the ceremony in a pre-arranged location. Please be aware that traffic delays can occur the closer you get to the Augusta Civic Center. Graduates and guests may want to leave earlier to arrive on time for line up and seating.

Commencement Protocol

The University of Maine at Augusta’s Commencement is an important, exciting, and proud day for the graduates, their families and friends, and for UMA’s faculty, administration, and staff. It is the University’s desire that the tone of the commencement ceremony be one of honor, respect, and dignity. Thus, behavior of the graduates and their guests should be consistent with the significance of the occasion. To that end, we ask the following:

• The ceremony will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. Guests should remain by their seats while the graduates enter.
• No one is permitted to stand in the aisles or to block the view of another audience member.
• Cell phones and pagers should be turned off. When this is not feasible due to urgent circumstances, the device should be set to vibrate or soft tone.
• It is requested that guests stay in their seats and not place themselves in the ceremony by drawing attention away from the graduates, calling directly to them, using noisemakers or signs, or approaching the graduates to take pictures.
• Guests should remain by their seats until the graduates, faculty, and staff have all marched out of the auditorium.

Seating

• There is no limit on the number of guests per graduate. Tickets are not required for admission.
• Guests will not be seated during the processional; late arrivals must wait until the processional ends before being seated.
• Elevators are available off of the main lobby to access the upper levels.

Disability Accommodations for Guests

In order to have the ceremony go as smoothly as possible for guests, designated seating areas for individuals with disabilities are available. Family members and guests needing more information about accommodations should contact Ariel Cassista, for more information at 621-3350/1-877-862-1234, ext. 3350, or e-mail ariel.cassista@maine.edu, no later than April 28.

Please note we are not able to seat entire families in the special seating designated areas; generally only one member of your party can accompany the guest requiring special seating. In order to accommodate those who require this seating, additional guests must sit in the general seating areas.

Wheelchair accessible seating and special seating for guests with mobility impairments, the elderly, and people with hearing and visual disabilities is available. A sign-language interpreter will be on the stage during the ceremony. Anyone needing the services of the interpreter should indicate this to an usher.

Disability seating will be on a “first-come, first-serve basis;” seating cannot be reserved.

Please arrive early. We recommend that guests needing accommodations arrive by 9:30 a.m. to allow ample time to arrive, park at the Augusta Civic Center, and to find seating in the auditorium. Handicapped parking is located near the Civic Center. Please note, family and friends who cannot walk a distance can be dropped off at the front of the Civic Center.

Upon arrival to the Civic Center auditorium, guests needing special seating should approach an usher. Ushers wear UMA blue stoles and nametags and will assist guests to the appropriate, designated seating areas.

Wheelchairs are available to use at the Civic Center; however, they should be used by guests to transport individuals to their seats and immediately returned to the main lobby for others to use.

A Special Word about Photography

UMA is committed to ensuring that family and friends are able to hear the name of their graduate called and watch them receive their diploma as they cross the stage. For families who desire to take a photo during the ceremony, we strongly request that you follow the rules below in order to minimize the disruption to others:

• Photos during the ceremony may only be taken from your seat or from the designated photography area located to the far right of the stage as indicated by the sign.
• Please do not block the view of other guests.
• Please be as quiet as possible when you move to take a photo, most especially if you are sitting in the metal bleachers.

Please also know that there are three excellent alternatives to taking your own photos during the ceremony:

• Arrangements have been made for professional photographers, GradImages®, to take photos of the graduates, as each crosses the stage and as each stands in front of the logo banner after leaving the stage. Proofs will be available about a week later and graduates should be contacted via email and given the web page address to view the proofs.
• Families are welcome to take photos in front of the podium following the ceremony.

Reception

There will be a reception with light refreshments immediately following the ceremony on the UMA Augusta Campus Green (between the Randall Student Center and Jewett Hall). Please join your graduate, faculty, staff, and other guests in this celebration. This is a five to ten-minute walk from the Civic Center or there is closer parking available in the Randall Student Center parking lot. If the weather is inclement, the reception will be held in the Randall Student Center.

Directions

If coming from the south, take Interstate 95 north to exit 112. Continue off ramp (from ramp, you will be bearing right). At the first traffic light, turn right.

If coming from the north, take Interstate 95 south to exit 112. At the end of the ramp, there is a light. Take a left into the right-hand lane to continue straight. At the third traffic light, turn right. The Augusta Civic Center will be directly in front of you. Facing the front of the Civic Center, the North Wing entrance is on the far right. Graduates should enter through there; guests should enter through the main entrance of the Civic Center (middle doors). Traffic will be heavy, so be sure to plan extra time for delays.

Parking

The Augusta Civic Center has several parking lots that provide free parking.
A limited amount of handicapped parking is available in front of the Civic Center and in the side parking areas. Family and friends who cannot walk a distance can be dropped off at the front of the Civic Center. Floor seating is available for those needing accommodations (please see Seating for Guests with Disabilities). Elevators are available off the main lobby to access the upper levels.

Area Lodging

Please visit the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce for great information on local lodging options, as well as a listing of area restaurants, shopping facilities, attractions, and recreational activities.