Commencement

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spring 2020 commencement speaker Kaylah Taylor spring 2020 commencement speaker Kaylah Taylor
Kaylah Taylor, former Graduate Commencement Speaker

Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony

Monday, May 11, 2026

Graduate degree ceremonies for spring and summer doctoral and master's degree candidates (except M.D. and law candidates) from the:

10:00 a.m.
College of Arts & Sciences; College of Engineering; Graduate School; Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric & Earth Science; Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine (non M.D.); and School of Nursing & Health Studies

4:00 p.m.
School of Architecture; Patti & Allan Herbert Business School; School of Communication; School of Education & Human Development; and Phillip & Patricia Frost School of Music

Apply to be a Speaker

Spring and Summer 2026 graduate applications are open to become the Graduate Student Commencement Speaker for the Spring 2026 Graduate Degree Ceremonies to be held on Monday, May 11, 2026. One speaker will be selected for the 10am Graduate Degree Ceremony and a second speaker will be selected for the 4pm Graduate Degree Ceremony. Applicants must be present at the in-person ceremony (Apply for graduation via CaneLink).

Eligibility Criteria:

  1. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5
  2. Currently enrolled Master's or Doctoral student (does not include Law or M.D. students)
  3. Eligible to graduate and scheduled to complete degree requirements in the Spring or Summer 2026 semester
  4. Apply to graduate by the March 4, 2026 deadline in CaneLink
  5. Must be in good standing with the University

Application Process:

The online application includes:
  1. Current CV/Resume
  2. Video: Record yourself giving your intended commencement speech and include the URL to share the file on box.miami.edu (5 min. max.)
  3. Transcript of proposed speech
  4. Contact information for two UM faculty or staff who can serve as references (do not submit letters) 

Selection Process:

Finalists will be contacted for interviews by March 27, 2026. A speaker for each graduate commencement ceremony will be chosen by a selection committee composed of Graduate School leadership.

For more information about the Graduate Student Commencement Speaker, please contact the Graduate School at graduateschool@miami.edu or 305-284-4154.

All master's and doctoral graduates, including those from online programs, are eligible to apply. The application deadline is March 20, 2026. 

Apply Now!

OTHER UPCOMING DEADLINES:

 

COMMENCEMENT BOOK ENTRIES FOR PHD/EDD/DMA STUDENTS: 

All PhD students and all EdD in Higher Education Leadership students will have their Dissertation title listed in the Commencement Book. This is an example of what a student entry will look like in the Commencement Book:

Sebastian Ibis
Major: Biology
Dissertation: Migration Patterns of Eudocimus albus

All DMA students and all EdD in Applied Learning Sciences students will have their Final Project title in the Commencement Book. This is an example of what a student entry will look like in the Commencement Book:

Sebastian Ibis
Major: Applied Learning Sciences
Final Project: Migration Patterns of Eudocimus albus

For more information on the Ceremony, click here to visit the website of the Office of Commencement. 

 

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