The Commencement Ceremony

Washington University and other American universities, public and private, follow the pattern of degree granting developed at the University of Paris, which was founded about 1100. In the early days of the University of Paris the discipline of the students, and indeed their education fell under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Paris who was responsible for local educational matters. In an attempt to perform his office, the Bishop claimed supervision of curriculum and degree-granting. Here he ran into trouble from the teachers who felt they were the proper judges of the qualifications of their students. They demanded the right to grant the degree.

The modern commencement ceremony represents a compromise between the Bishop and the teaching masters. By 1200 the masters were judging the merits of the student and then recommending him to the Bishop who conferred the degree. The ceremony you will witness this morning is the successor to this medieval compromise. The Faculty sits on the platform in its role as teacher and examiner. Its leaders, the Deans, present the qualified candidates to the Chancellor. Acting upon the recommendation of the Faculty, the Chancellor, as executive officer of the Board of Trustees, formally confers the appropriate degree.

Academic Dress

The academic dress worn by Faculty and candidates have their origins in the clerical robes worn by the students and teachers at the earliest medieval universities. American colleges and universities adopted a code of academic dress in 1895 that included regulating the cut and style of the gowns and prescribing colors to represent the different fields of learning. The code, which has since been updated and revised, is recommended for use by U.S. colleges and universities. The design of caps and gowns in determined by the following:

Level of degree earned (bachelor's, master's or doctor's): This is reflected in the design of the gown--how full it is, whether or not it has trim on the sleeves, and the design of the sleeves.   The gown for the bachelors degree, designed to be worn open or closed, has pointed sleeves.   The gown for the masters degree, which can be worn open or closed, has an oblong sleeve.   The doctors degree gown can be worn open or closed and has bell-shaped sleeves with three bars of velvet across the sleeves.

Institution granting the degree: The institution is reflected in the hoods for advanced degrees.   The backs of the hoods are lined with silk showing the colors of the institution granting the degree, or the institution with which the wearer is connected.   Washington University's hood is lined with red and green, the school's official colors.   The color of the tassle on the cap and of the velvet edging of the hood, carried forward around the throat, indicates the division of the university.

White—Arts and Sciences (bachelors and masters), Dark Blue—Arts and Sciences (PhD); Brown--Art; Silver Beige--Business; Orange--Engineering; Blue Violet--Architecture; Purple--Law; Citron--Social Work; Golden Yellow--University College; Green--Medicine.

Banners

In addition to the coloring present in the academic dress, the division is also represented on the University's Commencement banners. These banners are carried by student marshals at the head of the procession for their division. You will note that the side sections of the banners are red and green, the University's colors, and that the center section, which bears the seal of the University, is the color of the academic division.

The Quadrangle

The site of the University Commencement Ceremony each spring, the Quadrangle is surrounded by four of the University's oldest buildings: Brookings Hall to the east, Ridgley Hall to the west, Cupples Hall I to the north and Busch Hall to the south. Beaumont Pavilion, the outdoor stage, was added in 1965.

The Quadrangle contains a number of commemorative plaques and inscriptions.   As you walk up the main steps leading to the archway separating North and South Bookings Hall, two inscriptions on the east façade recognize the University's original founding in 1853 as Eliot Seminary and its re-naming as Washington University in 1857.   The Latin inscription above the archway reads: Discere Si Cupias Intra: Salvere Iubemus ("If you desire to learn, enter: We bid you welcome"). The large granite plaque in the plaza in front of Brookings Hall commemorates the naming of the Danforth Campus in 2006.

The plaque embedded in the ground beneath the Brookings Hall archway honors Washington University's founder, first Chairman of the Board and the third Chancellor, William Greenleaf Eliot. The plaque was given to the University during the centennial celebrations in 1953 by the First Unitarian Church of St. Louis.   Finally, on the west façade of Brookings Hall above the clock the Latin inscription reads: Cedunt Horae, Opera Manent ("The hours go by, but the works remain").

The University Seal

The University seal was developed by Holmes Smith, Professor of Drawing and History of Art, 1896, using elements from the coat of arms of George Washington (after whom the University was named) and fleur de lis, the symbol of King Louis IX (patron and namesake of St. Louis).   The   seal was officially adopted by the Board of Trustees in March 1897.   The University's motto, which appears inside an open book in the middle of the University seal, is Per Veritatem Vis, "Strength through Truth."   The motto was adopted in 1915.   The current version of the University seal was created in 2000 incorporating the same elements.