YourPace Commencement Question

[C2Hype]

Hey guys! I am beginning my first session on Spring 1, I only have my 30 residency credits to do. I plan on finishing in 1 term but I may need to finish in 2 terms (Spring II). 
My question would be what is the deadline to sign up for commencement? It is huge for me to be able to walk at the physical UMPI campus. If I don’t finish my final class until midway into Spring II, would that be too late to walk on May 5th?

[ss20ts]

You can walk in Commencement in May if you have 6 or fewer credits left to complete to graduate at the end of the spring semester which is the end of Spring 2. If you finish all of your courses in Spring 2 then you'll have no problem. When Spring 1 begins ask your academic success coach what the deadline is to apply for graduation to walk in Commencement. Graduation refers to the conferring of the degree and Commencement is where you walk and participate in the graduation ceremony. Do your research on traveling to and around Presque Isle! It's a tiny town with no Uber or Lyft or rental cars.

[Mint Berry Crunch]

Hey guys! I am beginning my first session on Spring 1, I only have my 30 residency credits to do. I plan on finishing in 1 term but I may need to finish in 2 terms (Spring II). 
My question would be what is the deadline to sign up for commencement? It is huge for me to be able to walk at the physical UMPI campus. If I don’t finish my final class until midway into Spring II, would that be too late to walk on May 5th?

You should have no problem at all being able to walk. I forget (but I am going to look for you), but if I remember correctly, you have to be within range of graduating by the following semester (Summer 1). I got bored one day and started reading all of their policies and I remember stumbling upon this. As for the campus itself, I have been there for graduation this year. I thought it was beautiful and the buildings themselves are really nice both inside and out. There isn't really much to do in the nearby area. There are a couple of good restaurants in the area. I suggest The Maple Pig; they have some great food there I thought. While you are there, make sure to check out the school store. Its in the cafeteria area and it is super tiny, but they have some really cool stuff there too (I bought the UMPI tie and the frame from there, plus the UMPI Nike hoodie). There is a Best Western right next to UMPI that a lot of YourPace students stayed at. Also, they will have an event an hour before commencement for all YourPace students to meet up at in Preble Hall if memory serves me right. You will have a lot fun that day, and rightfully so. I drove 11 hours to get there from Jersey. I enjoyed myself, but I wish I had planned better due to the limited amount of things you can do there. I did however walk the trail behind UMPI by the train tracks and my girlfriend and I encountered some kids playing guitar in their backyard. We got invited over by their mom to watch them play in lawn chairs and we were offered some beer. Single-handedly, best vacation of my life. I found out about UMPI from independent research on more CBE schools after I left WGU. Though, I owe it to this community for more information and the opportunity to have attended such an event.

[bjcheung77]

Your main priority is to finish the most you can transfer into UMPI, the 90+ credits, then complete the required 30 credits in the session. If you've got that done, I don't see an issue with commencement and walking on that day... Just make sure you've done those 90+ credits, and 30 residency credits first... Also email your academic success coach, plus advising to make sure you're on track to completing everything, periodically.

[mattrife]

You can check UMPI's Registrar or commencement page for the registration deadline, as it typically requires advance notice. Many universities allow students to participate in commencement if they're close to finishing, even if credits are completed later.

[jg_nuy]

Source from a friend's recent email:

To participate in the 2025 graduation, the deadline to file the graduation application in MaineStreet is March 31, 2025. The in-person Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m. in Wieden Gymnasium and during a virtual graduation ceremony that will premiere on our YouTube page in June. You can't participate in the May 2025 Commencement ceremony, either in-person or virtually, if you DO NOT have a MaineStreet graduation application on file.

UMPI Commencement Participation Policy
Students whose degree requirements will not be completed before the graduation ceremony in May 2025 will only be permitted to participate in the ceremony provided that at least ONE (1) of the following criteria has been met:

1. A student lacking no more than six (6) credit hours OR
2. A student has two (2) courses or fewer remaining OR
3. A student only needs to complete student teaching, an internship, or a practicum as the final part of their program OR
4. A student has developed a plan, with the approval of their Faculty and Professional Academic Advisors or YourPace Success Coaches, to complete all remaining requirements by the conclusion of the subsequent Fall 2025.

[bjcheung77]

You can check UMPI's Registrar or commencement page for the registration deadline, as it typically requires advance notice. Many universities allow students to participate in commencement if they're close to finishing, even if credits are completed later.

In short, check with UMPI... BTW, is that URL in your profile a valid one?

[ishady]

You can walk in Commencement in May if you have 6 or fewer credits left to complete to graduate at the end of the spring semester which is the end of Spring 2. If you finish all of your courses in Spring 2 then you'll have no problem. When Spring 1 begins ask your academic success coach what the deadline is to apply for graduation to walk in Commencement. Graduation refers to the conferring of the degree and Commencement is where you walk and participate in the graduation ceremony. Do your research on traveling to and around Presque Isle! It's a tiny town with no Uber or Lyft or rental cars.

Hi, I plan to.fly 9,000 miles to UMPI for the commencement. I just read your comment that no Uber, Lyft or rental car there. Do you have a suggestion how to get from the airport to Hampton Inn and to get around town? I really want to go to Presque Isle but the no transportation really holding me down, cause it's one hour walk from the airport to the hotel.
Thanks. Appreciate it.

[Jonathan Whatley]

Presque Isle International Airport maintains a ground transportation page. A web search for taxi Presque Isle Maine might also show one or two other providers. Your hotel front desk might also know an option.

[ishady]

Presque Isle International Airport maintains a ground transportation page. A web search for taxi Presque Isle Maine might also show one or two other providers. Your hotel front desk might also know an option.

Thank you, I will contact them.