Baccalaureate

• Legend states that the ceremony started in 1432 at Oxford University

• Graduates were required to deliver a sermon in Latin because most universities graduated educated ministers

• Today, the service is interfaith and celebrates the completion of the undergraduate academic career.

Sindelar

      Coe College Chaplain Kristin Hutson explained that traditionally, there are two student speakers at Baccalaureate.  One graduate writes and leads the Prayer for Baccalaureate and one graduate presents a Statement from a Senior. 
     The Chaplain chooses these student participants.  She generally chooses seniors who have been very active in religious life at Coe and who have also demonstrated strong leadership on campus in a variety of different areas.  
     Most years, students who have been peer ministers have been selected. Hutson said, “This year, there are no senior peer ministers and no graduating seniors who have been active in religious life and been strong campus leaders in other capacities.  So, I chose a senior who has demonstrated wide campus leadership in other arenas, is involved in mission and philanthropy, and who is also active in their faith (albeit off campus).”

Diploma

• Until about 100 years ago, diplomas were originally made of paper-thin sheepskin hand-written, rolled and tied with ribbon.

• When paper making techniques improved diplomas changed to be printed on parchment.

• At the turn of the century, diplomas were no longer rolled-up, but were handed out in leather binders.  Rumor has it that it was easier to frame diplomas that were not rolled-up.

Nicholson

      Religion Professor Dr. Hugh Nicholson does not view his diplomas as an important symbol of completing his college career because he felt that paying for college was a bigger accomplishment.
     Nicholson said, “When the bank sent me the certificate telling me that my balance had been paid in full, I framed it and hung it up on the wall.”

Caps

• Caps are made of black cotton poplin and match the gown. 

• The only students who can wear velvet caps are ones that are receiving their doctor’s degree. 

•The cap should be worn horizontally and the point should be in the center of the student’s forehead.

Hoods

• During the ceremony the professors wear hoods

• Hoods are said to have originated from the Celts and their Druids.

• In Celtic groups, only the Druid priests wore capes with hoods to symbolize their superiority in the group.

• The hoods represent superior intelligence.

• In the Middle Ages, meaningful symbols were associated with receiving a degree. One of those symbols was an academic hood.

• The velvet color on the outside edge indicates the graduate’s degree, white for arts, gold for science, brown for fine arts, etc.

• The size and shape of the hood and sleeve design on the gown show which degree the student has received.

• The length of the hood for masters is three inches and for doctors is five inches.

Nesmith 

     Receiving your doctoral hood is such an accomplishment because it symbolizes all of the hard work that you have done to get to where you are today.
     For this graduation Rhetoric Professor Dr. Jane Nesmith is going to be wearing her father’s robe and hood.  She was in third grade when her dad received his doctorate and she can remember watching him receive his hood.  Her father came to her doctoral ceremony. 
     Those people who are up on their doctoral colors will wonder why Nesmith is wearing the colors of an electrical engineer.  Nesmith said, “I found my dad’s hood when he passed away and I will wear it in honor of him.”

Lanegran

      Political Science Professor Dr. Kim Lanegran is very proud of her academic hood, which she got upon receiving her PhD. 
     Lanegran said, “My father bought mine for me as his father had paid for his years ago.”

Class Ring

• In 1835 the first class ring was developed at West Point U.S. Academy.

• In the beginning of the 1900’s class rings came into fashion. 

• The first rings were very crude and only had a rod with a symbol.

• As soon as stones were added and more details were developed they became popular.

• The idea for a class ring dates back to the Egyptians who believed that their scarab rings would bring them eternal life, if they wore their seal signet rings until they died and were buried in them.

• Today, class rings are seen as a combination of demonstrating school pride and an outward representation of the diploma.

• Traditionally, most people wear their class ring on the third finger on the right hand.  This is because the Knights felt it gave them double strength and good luck to wear it there.  A class ring can be worn on any finger or some people choose to wear it on a chair around their neck.

Music

• Sir Edward Elgar composed and performed “Pomp and Circumstance” on October 19, 1901 in Liverpool, England.

• The title comes from a line in Shakespeare’s Othello “Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war!”

• It was originally intended for the coronation of King Edward VII.

• In 1905, the song became associated with graduations when it was played at Yale University for the honorary doctorate that was bestowed upon Elgar.  

• Soon all of the Ivy League schools started using the song and eventually it became the tune that everyone graduated to.

Gown

• Medieval scholars wore clerical robes as their main form of dress.

• In 1321, the University of Coimbra stated that all Doctors, Bachelors, and Licentiates have to wear gowns.

• Around the time of England’s King Henry VIII, Oxford and Cambridge started using a standard form of academic dress.  Even the tiniest details were controlled by the university.

• Immigrants from England carried the tradition of graduation cap and gown with them from England.

• In the 1800s colors were assigned to represent certain areas of study.