September 22, 2023

3 – 5 pm at the Augusta Civic Center

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.

Learn more about this year’s Academic Theme

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.

Learn more about Rising 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 22, 2023.
  • 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 Howard Room in the North Wing of the Augusta Civic Center 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 Augusta Civic Center, Kennebec and Penobscot rooms. 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 Howard Room in the North Wing of the Augusta Civic Center 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 Augusta Civic Center, Kennebec and Penobscot rooms. 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 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.

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

As a Rising Scholar, UMA President Cushman and Provost Szakas look forward to recognizing you during UMA’s September 22nd 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 new 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 Fort Western Room in the North Wing of the Augusta Civic Center 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 seats in the auditorium and await the 3:00 start.

Some other things to note:

During Convocation, 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.

Convocation Reception: There will be a reception with light refreshments immediately following the ceremony at the Augusta Civic Center, Kennebec and Penobscot rooms. Please join faculty, staff, guests, and your fellow Rising Scholars in this celebration.

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

Again, our congratulations!

If you were selected as a Rising Scholar at UMA in the past, you are invited to attend Convocation on September 22nd 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, we encourage you to click here to do so immediately.

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.

Convocation Reception: There will be a reception with light refreshments immediately following the ceremony at the Augusta Civic Center, Kennebec and Penobscot rooms. Please join faculty, staff, guests, and your fellow Rising Scholars in this celebration.

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 at the Augusta Civic Center or tune in to the Convocation event online on September 22 at 3:00 pm.

A link to join the live stream will be posted on this page closer to the event date.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend in person

Attendees needing accommodations for disabilities should contact Ariel Cassista at 621-3350, or e-mail ariel.cassista@maine.edu, no later than September 15th.