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.

Currently, the plan is to host an in-person Commencement ceremony, if public health guidelines allow us to do so at that time. More information on the location, cap and gown, and other details will be posted on the Commencement website and emailed to graduates.

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 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.

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.

Class of 2020 can order a diploma cover via the form emailed to you.

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 (March 16) 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, email commencement@miami.edu as soon as possible to receive information on late options.

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.

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 

For all information and frequently asked questions regarding Hard Rock Stadium and ticketing, please visit the venue webpage.

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 brought 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.

Graduates and guests can leave phones, keys and wallets in their pockets as they proceed through a touchless security scan at all gates. Mobile tickets will be used for touchless entry into the stadium.

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.

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 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 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.

Each commencement ceremony will last approximately 2.5-3 hours.

All graduates will be physically distanced. 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.

To maintain physical distancing, graduates will be limited to four guest tickets.

All guest details for the May 2021 ceremonies are posted on the Guest page.

More information on Hard Rock Stadium can be found on the A-Z Guide.

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.

All guests will have reserved seating. Seat locations will be displayed when the tickets are delivered via email. All tickets are mobile tickets and will be delivered to each student via their UM email closer to commencement. Graduates are responsible for forwarding tickets to their guests. Each guest above the age of 2 must have a ticket.

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

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.