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 in an air-conditioned arena.

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 contac the Office of the Registrar at (305) 284-2294 or your school/college advisor.

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 the Office of the Registrar at (305) 284-2294 or the Office of Commencement at (305) 284-1824.

Extra regalia that was not preordered via the CaneLink application or the Office of Commencement registration form 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 are 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.

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 Hard Rock Stadium and ticketing, please visit the venue webpage.

All parking lots will open an hour and a half before the start of each ceremony. Parking is complimentary.

Parking is conveniently located in the Southeast parking lot at the Hard Rock Stadium. Please refer to the parking map for commencement ceremony parking locations. Commencement graduates and guests will enter and exit via Gates 2 or 3.

Ride share vehicles must enter and exit via Gate 3. Drop off location is indicated on the parking map above.

Wearing a mask will be required throughout the ceremony. Face coverings are required for all guests and staff over two years of age. Please bring your own face coverings and wear them at all times, except when actively eating or drinking. All face coverings whether disposable or reusable must be made with at least two layers of breathable material, fully cover the nose and mouth and secure under the chin. Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face and be secured with ties or ear loops and allow you to remain hands free. At this time, based on guidance from health authorities open chin triangle bandanas and face coverings containing valves, mesh materials or holes of any kind are not acceptable face coverings.

Please review the Hard Rock Stadium clear bag policy for details on items that can and cannot be brough into the stadium. All guests will be subject to a search of their person and possessions prior to entering Hard Rock Stadium. In accordance with NFL Best Practices and Hard Rock Stadium security guidelines, all permissible bags per the policy of the event will be permitted into Hard Rock Stadium after a thorough inspection by a Stadium Security. Guests should be prepared to open their bags for inspection and may be asked by Hard Rock Stadium Security to shift and possibly remove the contents.

For bags that exceed the permissible size, guests have the option of returning the item to their vehicle.

Concessions will be available on the 200 level for guests to enjoy. Each concession is 100% cashless. For concessions, socially distanced line queuing and stanchions will help guide all attendees to maintain proper social distancing protocols.

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

The Hard Rock interactive seating map can be viewed by clicking this link: https://www.seats3d.com/ncaa/university_miami/football/#/

Your safety is our top priority while at Hard Rock Stadium. Increased sanitation and disinfection protocols include disinfecting in between ceremonies and disinfecting handrails, doorknobs, and restrooms prior to all ceremonies. Hard Rock Stadium Housekeeping will have allotted time to ensure sanitation protocols have been met before proceeding with each ceremony.

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 events@law.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 graduates who are physically in attendance will be called. The livestream is a viewing platform only. All graduates will have access to their personalized graduate slide.

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.

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 for Spring/Summer 2020 graduates are final records with the University of Miami.

All Fall 2020 Latin honors are based on your previous semester's GPA. Please contact your school/college for GPA 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.

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.

If you have already received your regalia, all you need to do is arrive fully dressed wearing your gown, cap, and hood (if applicable). If you missed the deadline to order cap and gown, extra cap and gown will be available at the graduate check-in area.

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 at Hard Rock Stadium. Please make sure to stop by the Herff Jones table to get 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 October 8, 2020 deadline.

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.

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 when you pick up your regalia during cap and gown distribution. The cost is $25 (credit card only). 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 

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.

At the graduate check-in area graduates will receive their name card, UMiami mask, and a pen. The back of your name card must be filled out using the pen provided at your seat. Graduates also have the opportunity to make edits to the way your name is displayed by visitng 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 for Spring/Summer 2020 graduates are final records with the University of Miami. All Fall 2020 Latin honors are based on your previous semester's GPA. The Office of the Registrar will be at the troubleshooting table with all final records.

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 physically distanced photo with the president and the dean of your school/college on stage. No handshaking with the president or Dean is allowed.

Doctoral students will not be hooded on stage and should arrive wearing their hood. All graduates must keep their masks on the entire ceremony, even when walking across the stage.

Yes, all graduates will receive a diploma cover as they line up to walk across the stage.

Each commencement ceremony will last approximately 2.5-3 hours.

All graduates will be physically distanced and seated on the 100 level of the stadium. Graduates are seated with their classmates according to school or college and degree level. Graduates are not seated alphabetically or by specific degrees. All graduates will be displayed on the video screens as they receive the diploma on stage.

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

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.

Gates will open 90 minutes prior to each ceremony start time.

All guests and graduates will enter Hard Rock Stadium via Gates 2 and 3. Guest services staff will direct you where to park. Parking is free for all commencement ceremonies. 

Click here to view the parking map and detailed information.

Special needs parking is indicated on the parking map. 

The Special Needs Parking is located in the Black East Parking Lot. Handicap Parking Decals or Special Passes need to be displayed. Any ADA guests will be able to utilize golf carts from guest experience staff to get to the South Side.

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

Yes, masks are required for at all times. Click here to view Hard Rock Stadium mask policy.

Click here for more ticketing information.

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

We do not provide wheelchairs for our guests. Rental options are provided by Medical Equipment Solutions at (305) 590-5755. Please mention that it is for the University of Miami Commencement ceremony.

Students should check with each individual school or college about any special receptions. Reception times and locations, when available, are listed on our website Reception Information.

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.