By Dr. Matthew Lynch, Education Expert with a Ed.D. from Jackson State University
Commencement stands as one of education’s most enduring and significant rituals—a ceremonial tradition that transcends mere pageantry to embody the fundamental purpose of our educational institutions. Having participated in countless commencement ceremonies as both an academic and administrator, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for how these events function as powerful transitional markers in students’ educational journeys. Understanding commencement requires examining not only its practical components but also its rich symbolic meaning and evolving role in contemporary education.
Defining Commencement
At its most basic level, commencement refers to the formal ceremony marking the conferral of academic degrees and diplomas to graduating students. The term itself derives from the Latin “commencementum,” meaning “beginning” or “start”—highlighting the paradoxical nature of these ceremonies as both culminations and new beginnings. While graduation technically refers to the actual conferring of a degree, commencement encompasses the entire ceremonial event surrounding this conferral.
Modern commencement ceremonies typically include processionals, speeches, recognition of academic achievements, the conferring of degrees, and various symbolic rituals like the turning of tassels or hooding of doctoral candidates. These elements combine to create a powerful communal experience that formally transitions students from one life stage to another.
Historical Development
Commencement ceremonies trace their origins to medieval European universities, where academic traditions we still recognize today first took shape. The distinctive academic regalia—robes, hoods, and caps—evolved from the everyday clothing of scholars in medieval universities, where unheated buildings made warm gowns practical necessities. Colors, patterns, and design elements gradually developed to signify different disciplines and degree levels.
In America, commencement traditions date to the founding of the earliest colonial colleges. Harvard held its first commencement in 1642, establishing a tradition that would spread throughout American higher education. Early ceremonies were often heavily religious in nature, reflecting the ministerial focus of many colonial institutions. They frequently included extended orations in Latin and Greek, demonstrating graduates’ mastery of classical education.
As higher education expanded throughout American history, commencement evolved from an elite ritual for privileged few to a widely recognized milestone celebrated across diverse institutions and student populations. Today’s ceremonies reflect this democratization while maintaining connections to historical academic traditions.
Symbolic Elements of Commencement
Modern commencement ceremonies incorporate numerous symbolic elements that convey deeper meaning:
Academic Regalia
The distinctive caps, gowns, and hoods worn during commencement carry rich symbolic significance. Color, design, and decorative elements communicate information about academic discipline, degree level, and institutional affiliation. Doctoral gowns with velvet stripes, master’s hoods with specific disciplinary colors, and distinctive caps create a visual language of academic achievement.
Ceremonial Objects
Many institutions incorporate special ceremonial objects into commencement. University maces, representing institutional authority; ceremonial chains of office worn by presidents; and specially bound copies of charters or founding documents all connect current graduates to institutional history and tradition.
Ritualized Movements
Physical actions during commencement—processing into the ceremony space, crossing the stage, moving tassels from right to left, turning to face the audience as newly minted graduates—create embodied experiences that reinforce the transitional nature of the event. These movements physically enact the passage from student to graduate.
Spoken Formulas
The formal language used during degree conferral (“By the authority vested in me…”) connects modern ceremonies to centuries of academic tradition. These archaic yet dignified formulations elevate the moment beyond ordinary speech, marking its special significance.
The Educational Function of Commencement
Beyond its ceremonial aspects, commencement serves several important educational and social functions:
Community Recognition
Commencement publicly acknowledges and celebrates academic achievement. This formal recognition validates graduates’ efforts and reinforces the value placed on educational attainment. For many first-generation college students and those from underrepresented groups, this public recognition holds particular significance.
Intergenerational Connection
Few educational events bring together such diverse participants—current students, faculty, administrators, alumni, families, and community members. This intergenerational gathering connects graduates to both educational lineage and future potential, reinforcing the continuity of knowledge transmission across generations.
Transitional Marker
As a rite of passage, commencement helps graduates psychologically process the significant life transition they are experiencing. The ceremony creates closure for the completed educational phase while opening possibilities for what lies ahead—hence the term “commencement” as a beginning.
Institutional Affirmation
Commencement reaffirms core institutional values and educational mission. The speeches, honorary degrees, and ceremonial elements communicate what the institution values and celebrates, reinforcing its distinctive educational vision.
Modern Variations and Innovations
While maintaining connections to historical traditions, contemporary commencements have evolved to reflect changing educational landscapes:
Diverse Recognition
Many institutions now incorporate elements recognizing the diverse journeys and identities of graduates. Cultural stoles, specialized ceremonies for first-generation students, military veterans, or other groups, and multilingual elements acknowledge the varied paths through higher education.
Multiple Ceremonies
As institutions grow, many have shifted from single, institution-wide ceremonies to multiple smaller commencements organized by college, school, or department. These more intimate gatherings allow for more personalized recognition while maintaining ceremonial elements.
Digital Innovations
Recent years have seen technological elements incorporated into commencement, from live-streaming for distant family members to digital diploma delivery systems. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend, forcing creative adaptations including fully virtual ceremonies that maintained ceremonial elements while ensuring public health.
Environmental Considerations
Sustainability concerns have influenced commencement planning, with institutions adopting recyclable or reusable regalia, digital programs, and more environmentally conscious event management approaches.
The Continued Relevance of Commencement
In an era of online learning, non-traditional educational pathways, and questioning of traditional institutions, commencement ceremonies might seem anachronistic. Yet their persistence and evolution suggest they fulfill essential human needs for ritual, recognition, and community that transcend changing educational modalities.
The power of commencement lies partly in its ability to make abstract educational accomplishments tangible and visible. In a credential-focused society where learning often happens invisibly, commencement makes achievement publicly manifest through physical presence, symbolic objects, and communal witness.
Conclusion
Commencement represents far more than a bureaucratic formality or photo opportunity. These ceremonies embody education’s fundamental purpose: transformation of individuals through knowledge acquisition and intellectual growth. The ritual elements—from distinctive clothing to formal language to ceremonial movements—create a powerful experience that helps graduates internalize their accomplishment and prepare for new beginnings.
As educational institutions continue evolving to meet changing societal needs, commencement ceremonies will likely adapt while maintaining their essential function as meaningful transitional rituals. Their endurance across centuries and cultures testifies to our collective human need to mark significant life transitions with community, symbol, and ceremony. In this way, commencement connects contemporary graduates not only to their own educational accomplishments but to a centuries-old tradition of recognizing and celebrating the transformative power of learning.
