September 20, 2024
3 – 5 pm at the Augusta Civic Center
2024/2025 Academic Theme: Indigeneity
In academia, convocation is the event officially welcoming students to their academic career. It is intended also to convey to students the importance of their educational work and to show the school’s commitment to supporting students as they pursue their education.
At UMA, Convocation marks the beginning of a new academic year, and with that, a new academic theme. The UMA Colloquium is pleased to announce that the 2024-2025 academic theme is Indigeneity. Part of this year’s academic theme includes the adoption of a single theme-related book by a number of classes across the curriculum: Night of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty.
UMA is proud to welcome Mr. Talty to our convocation stage as this year’s keynote speaker. We will have a limited number of copies of his recent books, Night of the Living Rez and Fire Exit, available for purchase onsite. The public is invited to attend.
Author of Night of the Living Rez
Rising Scholars
Rising Scholars are also recognized at Convocation for both academic achievement and promise. Students are nominated because they have excelled in academics, engaged in the UMA community, or are someone who faculty/staff believe shows great potential and promise as student scholars.
- First and foremost, there is an expectation that faculty will attend if they are able.
- Faculty members – and especially those teaching a class on Friday afternoon – are encouraged to invite their students to what promises to be a thought-provoking conversation that cuts across all academic disciplines.
- Convocation is scheduled for Friday, September 20, 2024.
- As part of Convocation, faculty are expected to participate in the Processional and Recessional in full academic regalia. If you require a cap and gown, Please contact the Spirit Store or Tadd Stone at Sodexo, Tadd.Stone@sodexo.com
- All Faculty must report to the event location no later than 2:30 P.M. At that time, line up for the Convocation processional will begin and last-minute “marching orders” will be given. Convocation will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m.
- Convocation will conclude at approximately 4:00 p.m.
- Convocation Reception: There will be a reception with light refreshments immediately following the ceremony at the event location. Please join your fellow faculty, staff, guests, and our Rising Scholars in this celebration.
- If you have any questions, contact Carol Bean at 207.621.3438.
- Because Convocation is designed to be a university community event, UMA staff are expected to attend Convocation as they are able to do so.
- Staff who nominated a Rising Scholar are especially encouraged to attend.
- If you nominated a Rising Scholar, please report to the event location no later than 2:30 P.M. At that time, line up for the Convocation processional will begin and last-minute “marching orders” will be given. Convocation will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m.
- Staff members participating in the Processional and Recessional must be in full academic regalia. If you require a cap and gown, Please contact the Spirit Store or Tadd Stone at Sodexo, Tadd.Stone@sodexo.com
- Convocation will conclude at approximately 4:00 p.m.
- Convocation Reception: There will be a reception with light refreshments immediately following the ceremony at the event location. Please join your fellow faculty, staff, guests, and our Rising Scholars in this celebration.
- If you have any questions, contact Carol Bean at 207.621.3438.
Students
- Students are encouraged to attend Convocation whether or not they are Rising Scholars.
- Students may sit in any unreserved seating section.
- If a student has been nominated as a Rising Scholar this year or is a Returning Rising Scholar from a previous year there are special seating arrangements and instructions.
This Year’s Rising Scholars
Congratulations! If you have received special notification by email, then you are a 2024 Rising Scholar.
As a Rising Scholar, UMA President Cushman and Provost Szakas look forward to recognizing you during UMA’s September 20th Convocation. If you have not yet sent in your RSVP to attend Convocation, we encourage you to click here to do so immediately.
We plan to honor Rising Scholars in a couple of ways during Convocation, including having all 2024 Rising Scholars participate in the Processional that begins the ceremony. During the Processional, each Rising Scholar will march into the ceremony alongside a faculty member. Rising Scholars will then sit together in a special section adjacent to the faculty section.
All Rising Scholars attending Convocation, therefore, must report to the event location no later than 2:30 PM. At that time, line up for the Convocation processional will begin and last-minute “marching orders” will be given. Convocation will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m.
If you have family, friends, or guests attending Convocation – and we hope you do – they should take their seats and await the 3:00 start.
Some other things to note:
During Convocation, this year’s Rising Scholars will be individually recognized by Provost Szakas, will participate in the Recessional, and receive a special certificate signed by President Cushman.
As a Rising Scholar, you are encouraged to wear either business dress or business casual attire at Convocation. While there is no formal dress code, jeans and t-shirts are discouraged.
If you have any questions, contact Carol Bean at 207.621.3438.
Again, our congratulations!
Returning Rising Scholars
If you were selected as a Rising Scholar at UMA in the past, you are invited to attend Convocation on September 20th as a returning Rising Scholar as a special guest of the University.
Returning Rising Scholars will be seated in a special reserved section. While only Rising Scholars nominated for this academic year will participate in the processional, President Cushman intends to recognize returning Rising Scholars as a group during Convocation.
If you have not yet sent in your RSVP to attend Convocation, please do so now.
When you arrive at Convocation, please be sure to tell an usher you are a returning Rising Scholar. They will escort you to the Rising Scholar reserved seating section.
If you have family, friends, or guests attending Convocation – and we hope you do – they will be seated in an adjacent seating area.
Some other things to note:
As a Rising Scholar, you are encouraged to wear either business dress or business casual attire at Convocation. While there is no formal dress code, jeans and t-shirts are discouraged.
If you have any questions, contact Carol Bean at 207.621.3438.
Convocation Reception
There will be a reception with light refreshments immediately following the ceremony at the event location. Please join faculty, staff, guests, and your fellow Rising Scholars in this celebration.
This event is open to the public. We invite you to join us at the Augusta Campus or tune in to the Convocation event online on September 20 at 3:00 pm.
A link to join the live stream will be posted directly on this page closer to the event date.
Attendees needing accommodations for disabilities should contact Rose Pelletier at 621-3442, or email rosep@maine.edu, no later than September 15th.