The University of Maryland held its 2006 Winter Commencement on December 20, 2006 at the Comcast Center. President Mote conferred the degrees after Mr. Matthew R. Hirsch, the Chair of the Commencement Speaker Selection Committee, gave the address.

The College of Computer, Mathematical and Physical Sciences held a Commencement Ceremony on December 21, 2006 in the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Dr. Sean C. Solomon, the director of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, was the guest speaker.