FAQ

All activities related to Commencement are managed by the Office of Commencement. For details and information including ceremony times, location, and cap and gown ordering can be found on the commencement website under Ceremony Information. Should you have any questions or concerns please contact our office at commencement@miami.edu.

There are two commencements annually: Fall Commencement held in December and Spring Commencement held in May. All students who wish to participate in commencement must apply to graduate via CaneLink by the deadline. Students who are scheduled to complete their degree requirements in Fall should apply during the fall semester and participate in the ceremony in December. Students who are scheduled to complete their degree requirements in Spring or Summer should apply during the spring semester and participate in the ceremony in May. For full details please click here.

In certain circumstances students will be allowed to walk in a ceremony other than the one held in the semester in which they complete their degree requirements. Acceptable circumstances include: study abroad; full-time internships/employment; summer graduation with deferred ceremony (some summer graduates elect to delay their participation in commencement until December). If you wish to participate in a ceremony other than the one in which your degree will be completed, please visit the application for graduation page for details. ALL other candidates must apply online via CaneLink.

The University of Miami covers all costs for all graduates’ regalia. Students are only responsible for the shipping fee. After the ceremony, the regalia is yours to keep or recycle. Students have the option to purchase graduation invitations and announcements, diploma frames and other graduation gifts.

Yes, GradImages photographers will be at commencement and will take a picture of each graduate as they walk across the stage. A complimentary copy of the photo taken as the graduate is congratulated by the President will be mailed to the graduates at the address listed on the reader card, along with instructions to order additional prints. After the event, photo proofs will be available to view on the GradImages website. Personal photographs may be taken only before and after the ceremony. No one is permitted in the aisles during the ceremony.

Yes. Visit the livestream website on the day of the ceremony to watch the webcast event.

Commencement is a capstone event and great Miami Hurricane tradition. There is no formal dress code; however, it is recommended the graduate dress for a special occasion. Friends and family may dress however they are comfortable for the event. Keep in mind that the ceremony is indoors at the Watsco Center.

Candidates for a University of Miami honorary degree, or a degree honoris causa, are submitted to the University via a nomination process and must undergo a committee review and Board approval in order to be selected. Our honorary degree archive webpage provides additional information about honorary degree conferrals.

You may contact the Office of Commencement at (305) 284-1824 or commencement@miami.edu.

For all questions regarding eligibility to graduate, please contact your school/college advisor.

Fall candidates must apply when the application for graduation opens in the fall semester (typically in September). Spring/Summer candidates must apply when the application for graduation opens in the spring semester (typically in March).

Students must apply online via CaneLink to participate in the ceremony. View the Application for Graduation page for deadlines and more information. If you need clarification on when to apply contact your academic advisor.

The deadline to place an order for cap and gown is November 5. If you missed this deadline, extra cap and gown will be available on site at the commencement ceremonies. Extra regalia is available on a VERY LIMITED first-come, first-served basis.

Because of publication print deadlines, we cannot guarantee that students who register after the deadline will be listed in the program. If you want to be listed in the program book, and have reserved regalia, it is important to apply to graduate before the deadline.

Once all financial holds are cleared and your degree is posted by your school or college, your diploma will be processed. You should receive your diploma in the mail about eight weeks after graduation. Answers to more of your questions about Graduation and Diplomas can be found online. For immediate status of your diploma, search the order status of your University of Miami diploma.

Graduates can check if their degree has already been posted online via CaneLink first and, if so, it can take 3-5 weeks to then receive their diploma in the mail. You can view degree status in Canelink using the information under “Degree Status” at https://registrar.miami.edu/graduation-and-transcripts/graduation-and-diplomas/diplomas/index.html.

You can also check the shipping status of your degree at this link: https://www.michaelsutter.com/miami 

If your degree hasn't been conferred you should speak with your advisor or program director to check on the status of the conferral. If it has and it has been 3-5 weeks and you still have not receive your diploma you can ’Canes Central via any of the means listed at canescentral.miami.edu/contact/

Diploma covers are distributed to each candidate as they walk across the stage on the day of their commencement ceremony.

For all information and frequently asked questions regarding Watsco Center venue policies, please visit the venue webpage.

It was announced on November 23rd that the guest ticket allotment has been increased to 6 guest tickets each for the December 2021 ceremonies.

Parking is conveniently located near the Watsco Center. The parking map will be posted on the parking and venue page.

All guests over the age of 2 years old will be required to wear a facial covering while on the campus of the University of Miami and inside of the Watsco Center. All guests will be required to provide their own facial coverings.

Guests will be required to keep their facial covering on throughout their stay on campus, unless they are actively eating or drinking. Guests should be stationary and maintain proper physical distancing in their assigned seats while drinking.

Face coverings must be worn over the nose and mouth and fit snuggly against the face.

All facial coverings should be at least 2 ply and neck gaiters are allowed. Open chin triangle bandanas, face coverings with valves or holes of any kind and mesh materials are not appropriate.

Yes, the University of Miami bookstore will be on-site selling flowers, diploma frames, and other UM items.

The graduate slide is a digital slide with each graduates photo, name, degree, school/college, and Latin honor (if applicable). The slide will also include the audio recording of the graduates' name. These slides will be available on the virtual celebration website for graduates and friends/family to view and download.

The slides are not displayed at the commencement ceremony. A live shot of each graduate walking across the stage is shown on screen along with their name.

No. A live feed of each graduate walking across the stage will be displayed on screen, not the virtual slide.

Click here to access the graduate slide on the MarchingOrder website.

Undergraduate and graduate students: Please email commencement@miami.edu explaining the error you receive with your name, C#, degree, and semester you completed your degree.

Law students: Please email graduation@law.miami.edu for assistance.

Medical students: Please email TStephenson@med.miami.edu for assistance.

Spelling your name phonetically helps the name reader properly pronounce your name. While some names may be simple to pronounce, others require special attention. For assistance with writing your name phonetically, visit: https://www.pronouncenames.com/

No. Only the names of thos physically present at commencement will have their name called. If you are not able to attend you will still have a graduate slide created that you can download and share with family and friends.

No. Commencement ceremonies are taking place in-person. Ceremonies are livestreamed via the University of Miami livestream account for guests who are unable to attend.

The photo should be a high-resolution (300 dpi), color photo of you in your cap and gown or a professional headshot (similar to one you would use in your LinkedIn profile). File types are limited to .jpg, .png. Maximum file size is 5 MB. The Office of Commencement will review and approve all photos.

All Latin honors at commencement are based on your previous semester GPA. You should contact your school/college for Latin honor requirements.

Please contact MarchingOrder at support@marchingorder.com.

Yes, all graduates are encouraged to submit their information for a graduate slide. A slide will be created for you whether or not you submit this information. These slides will be used as a back-up option should a switch to virtual ceremonies occur.

No. Name pronunciation cannot be submitted after the deadline.

If you plan to attend the in-person ceremony, you will have the opportunity to write the phonetic spelling of your name on your reader card at graduate check-in. The reader card is used to read and display your name as you walk across the stage.

After applying for graduation in CaneLink you will receive the link to place your order for cap and gown. You must place your order by the deadline (November 5th) in order to guarantee that you receive it on time. Additional fees will apply after the deadline and there is no guarantee that your cap and gown will arrive on time.

If you missed the deadline to order cap and gown, extra cap and gown will be available at the graduate check-in area when you arrive to the ceremony. Please make sure to stop by the Herff Jones table to get your cap and gown.

If you plan on attending the in-person ceremony you can pick up your cap and gown on the day of the ceremony. We will have very limited extras available at the graduate check-in area. Be sure to arrive 1 hour before the ceremony start time.

Stoles can be purchased online when purchasing your cap and gown. Stoles of gratitude will be available for purchase on the day of the in-person ceremony at the Graduate Check-in area. They are $25 each, credit card only.

Regalia is provided free of charge to all graduating University of Miami students. Students are only responsible for the shipping fee. All students must order regalia via the Herff Jones ordering site by the deadline. Orders placed after the deadline will incur additional fees.

Yes. All doctoral students have the option to purchase custom doctoral regalia. For more information or to place your order, visit the Herff Jones site. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.

No. The University of Miami does not have special regalia for Latin Honors. There is no additional cord or stole. The Latin honor for each graduate is displayed on screen and read aloud as they walk across the stage. It is also indicated in the program book next to the graduates name and included on the diploma.

All Bachelor's degree candidates should wear the tassel on the right side of the cap. During the ceremony they will be instructed to move the tassel to the left side after degrees are conferred.

All Master's and Doctoral degree candidates should wear the tassel on the left side of the cap.

Click here to view how to wear your regalia.

All faculty who plan to participate whether as invited stage party or general faculty must RSVP and order regalia on the Faculty RSVP website by the deadline.

Students and families can order custom UM graduation gifts and products, learn more and purchase products here.

The Official UM Stole of Gratitude can be purchased online when you order your cap and gown. The cost is $25. For more information, visit the Official UM Stole page. Stoles will also be sold on ceremony day, while supplies last.

If you are a registered student organization looking to make a group purchase, please contact commencement@miami.edu 

The University of Miami is excited to provide celebratory signs for graduates and families to show off their pride! Pick your favorite design, choose your size, download the file, take it to your local print shop, and show off your accomplishment. Click here to download your sign.

Graduates should arrive at least one hour prior to ceremony start time. All graduates must arrive fully dressed and wearing their hoods (this includes Doctoral, M.D. & Law students). If you missed the deadline to order cap and gown, extra cap and gown will be available at the graduate check-in area. Graduate entrance is located at the Watsco Center Multipurpose Room.

At the graduate check-in area graduates will receive their name card. The back of your name card must be filled out using the pens provided. Graduates also have the opportunity to make edits to the way your name is displayed by visiting the troubleshooting table. Herff Jones will also be on site for any cap and gown issues. Graduates will also be able to purchase the stole of gratitude ($25 credit card only).

Latin honors are awarded to bachelor's degree candidates only. All Latin honors at commencement are based on your previous semesters GPA. The Office of the Registrar will be present at graduate check-in to assist with any questions regarding Latin honors.

All graduates physically present will walk across the stage and have their name read aloud and displayed on the screen. You will receive a diploma cover as you walk up to the stage. Graduates will take a photo with the president. No handshaking with the president or Dean is allowed.

Doctoral students will not be hooded on stage and should arrive wearing their hood.

Each commencement ceremony will last approximately 2 hours.

All graduates will be physically distanced and seated on the floor of the arena. Graduates are seated with their classmates according to school or college and degree level. Graduates are not seated alphabetically or by specific degrees.

Please visit the guest page for details on planning your visit, venue, accessibility, etc.

To maintain physical distancing, graduates will be limited to 4 guest tickets. Tickets are provided free of charge.

The Office of Commencement does not provide formal letters or invitations for international guests. Information on this topic and what is needed for guests can be found on the International Students and Scholars Services website.

Doors will open 1 hour prior to each ceremony start time.

Parking is free for all graduates and guests.

Click here to view transportation details and parking map.

Yes, masks are required at all times unless actively eating or drinking.

Yes, closed caption is available for all Commencement ceremonies at miami.edu/closedcaption.

Watsco Center has wheelchairs that are used to transport guests from the entrance to their seat. These are not available to rent or use for personal use. Therefore, guests are encouraged to bring their own wheelchairs.

Special needs parking will be indicated on the parking map.

For more information on Special Needs accommodations during the ceremony, please visit the Accessibility page.

Some schools/colleges may host receptions. Please reach out to your school/college directly for that information. It will also be posted on the receptions page on our website.

No. The University of Miami does not host an Honors ceremony.

There are various other celebrations hosted by UM Departments, including the Graduating Legacy Reception, Senior Mwambo Ceremony, and Lavender Celebration and Recognition Ceremony. Details and more information on how to participate can be found on our Receptions webpage.