Commencement ceremony traditions, symbolism usher students into life beyond college

As graduates prepare for commencement, officials at the Office of University Ceremonies continue to plan a program that will observe tradition as well as change.
 
“It’s very colorful, it’s meaningful, and I think we’re especially lucky this year to have these fabulous speakers,” said Robin Roy Gress, secretary of the board of trustees and director of University Ceremonies.

Timing

This year, for the first time, IU will hold three commencement ceremonies.

The Graduate Commencement Ceremony will take place from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Friday in Assembly Hall, and two 90-minute undergraduate ceremonies will take place tomorrow, the first at 10 a.m. featuring seven schools and the second at 3 p.m. featuring five schools.

Assembly Hall’s doors will open two hours before each ceremony. Graduates will line up in Gladstein Fieldhouse, located adjacent to Assembly Hall, an hour and a half before the ceremony. The procession of graduates will begin 45 minutes later.

The Procession

In all ceremonies, Gress said Indiana University follows a traditional collegiate protocol.

“One of the primary aspects of that is the academic procession,” she said.

To begin the procession, the Grand Marshal will lead graduating students to their seats. A designated student from each school will carry a red banner representing the school from which he or she is graduating. As students are seated, the banners will be placed near the stage.

The Grand Marshal will remain at the head of the stage until the end of the student procession. He will then return to the north end of Assembly Hall. Herald trumpeters will play a fanfare, and the orchestra will begin processional music.

The Grand Marshal will lead the platform party procession, followed by heraldic banners representing each school. These banners are similar to those found hanging in the Indiana Memorial Union and those built into the stained glass in the Tudor Room, Gress said.

After the heraldic banners, the platform party of administrators, trustees and deans will proceed to the stage.

Seating

Students will be seated on the floor of Assembly Hall by school, Gress said.

“The preponderance of students is on the floor,” she said, “and they also go up either side into the stands.”

The platform in front of the graduates will seat IU President Michael McRobbie, IU Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson, as well as the IU trustees, vice presidents, and the deans of those schools participating in the given ceremony. Guests are seated in the stands.

The heraldic banners of each school will be placed on stage during the ceremony. After the platform party is seated, the Grand Marshal will begin commencement.

Speakers

Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom will deliver the commencement address at the graduate ceremony, and music legend Quincy Jones will deliver the address at both undergraduate ceremonies.

Along with the guest speakers, each of the undergraduate ceremonies will feature a student speaker.

“For the undergraduate ceremony on Saturday we have student speakers, which we haven’t had for many years,” said Karen Garinger, senior writer and editor for University Ceremonies.

Senior Jack McCarthy is scheduled to speak at the morning undergraduate ceremony, and senior Natsuki Atagi will speak in the afternoon.

Additionally, the ceremony includes remarks by President Michael McRobbie, Gress said.

Symbols

A multitude of symbols and customs surround the graduation ceremonies every year.

“There’s lots of tradition and pomp and circumstance as part of the ceremony,” Gress said.

As a custom, the University Grand Marshal will carry the Indiana University Mace. The Mace is embossed with the seals of the state of Indiana and of the University. The seal of the University is also embossed on the President’s podium.

McRobbie will also wear the jewel of IU. The jewel’s design and chain are inspired by the flower of the University, the Arbutus. Twelve precious stones sit within the jewel. Three of the stones represent reading, writing and arithmetic, while three others represent the arts, the sciences and the humanities.

For undergraduates and graduate students who did not complete undergraduate degrees at IU, the ceremony will include an alumni induction ceremony.

The ceremony will conclude with the traditional turning of the tassels.