2026 News 2026: Class of 2026 Commencement Ceremony details

Student success celebrated during four ceremonies

UMass Dartmouth will confer degrees on nearly 1900 graduates on May 21 and May 22, 2026, during its Class of 2026 Commencement Ceremonies.

Learn more about all the 2026 Commencement Ceremonies.

Schedule

Can't make a ceremony? Watch the live stream.

View the Commencement programs.

Undergraduate & Graduate Student Ceremony I - Cressy Field at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2026, with students from the following:

• School for Marine Science & Technology
• College of Engineering
• Charlton College of Business

Tentative Schedule:

• 9 a.m. – Student arrival at the Tennis Courts for check-in.
• 9 a.m. – Guest arrival at the Tripp Athletic Center for check-in.
• 10 a.m. – Ceremony begins.

Doctoral Ceremony - Main Auditorium at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2026, with all doctoral students from all schools and colleges (excluding Law students).
Tentative Schedule:

• 3 p.m. – Student arrival, check-in, and line up in the Frederick Douglass Unity House
• 3 p.m. – Guest arrival and check-in at the Campus Center.
• 4 p.m. – Ceremony begins.

Undergraduate & Graduate Student Ceremony II - Cressy Field at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, with students from the following:

• College of Visual & Performing Arts
• College of Nursing & Health Sciences
• College of Arts & Sciences

Tentative Schedule:

• 9 a.m. – Student arrival at the Tennis Courts for check-in.
• 9 a.m. – Guest arrival at the Tripp Athletic Center for check-in.
• 10 a.m. – Ceremony begins.

School of Law Ceremony - Main Auditorium at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, with Law students. Tentative Schedule:

• 2:30 p.m. – Student arrival, check-in, and line up in the Frederick Douglass Unity House
• 2:30 p.m. – Guest arrival and check-in at the Campus Center.
• 3:30 p.m. – Ceremony begins.

Student Speakers

Each Commencement Ceremony will feature a student speaker to address their peers, guests, and university officials. The Class of 2026 will be represented by Samuel Riley (Marketing) at the Undergraduate & Graduate Student Ceremony I, Eman Khwaja (Integrative Biology) at the Doctoral Ceremony, Angel Pelissari (Photography) at the Undergraduate & Graduate Student Ceremony II, and Paul Riley (Juris Doctorate) at the School of Law Ceremony.

Learn more about the 2026 Student Commencement Speakers.

Honorary Degree Recipients

As part of UMass Dartmouth's 2026 Commencement celebrations, the University will award honorary degrees—the highest award that the University can bestow—to Richard Lafrance, Jacqueline G. Somerville, PhD, RN, and Nishita Roy-Pope will be awarded with degrees during the Doctoral Ceremony. These individuals were selected because of their exceptional impact on their professions, civic life, and higher education.  

Learn more about the 2026 Honorary Degree Recipients.