Convocation is scheduled for September 22, 2023, from 3 – 5 pm on the Augusta Campus Green.

2023/2024 Academic Theme: Education as a Public Good

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 2023-2024 academic theme is Education as a Public Good. Part of this year’s academic theme includes the adoption of a single theme-related book by a number of classes across the curriculum: After the Ivory Tower Falls: How College Broke the American Dream and Blew Up Our Politics—and How to Fix It by Will Bunch.

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 faculty will attend.
  • 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 will conclude at approximately 4:00 p.m.
  • Because Convocation is designed to be a university community event, UMA staff are expected to attend Convocation.
  • Staff who nominated a Rising Scholar are especially encouraged to attend.
  • If you have any questions, contact Carol Bean at 207.621.3438.
  • Students are encouraged to attend Convocation whether or not they are Rising Scholars.
  • Returning Rising Scholars from previous years are also invited to attend Convocation.

Congratulations! If you have received special notification by email, then you are a new Rising Scholar.

As a Rising Scholar, UMA Interim President Szakas looks forward to recognizing you during UMA’s September 17th Convocation.

During Convocation, Rising Scholars will be individually recognized by President Szakas, and will receive a special certificate signed by President Szakas by mail.

We hope you and your guests will attend.

If you have any questions, contact Carol Bean at 207.621.3438.

Again, our congratulations!

If you were selected as a Rising Scholar last year or the year before, you are a Returning Rising Scholar. As a returning Rising Scholar, we look forward to your attending this year’s September 17th Convocation as a special guest of the university.

While only newly nominated Rising Scholars will be acknowledged by name during the program, Interim President Szakas intends to recognize returning Rising Scholars as a group during Convocation.

If you have any questions, contact Carol Bean at 207.621.3438.

This event is open to the public. We invite you to join us on campus or tune in to the Convocation event online on September 22 at 3:00 pm.

A link to join the live stream will be provided closer to the event date.