Why do they call it commencement?

Why do they call it commencement?

The word reflects the meaning of the Latin inceptio (“beginning”), the name given the ceremony of initiation for new scholars into the fellowship of university teachers in medieval Europe. The event marked the commencement or “inception” of their full-fledged academic lives.

Is high school graduation called commencement?

That’s your Quick and Dirty Tip: We call graduation ceremonies commencement because in the past they marked the beginning of a person’s career as a master of arts at the university—in other words, the beginning of a person’s career as a university teacher.

Does commencement mean end?

The word commencement is actually derived from a 13th century French word meaning beginning or start. You see, commencement isn’t the celebration of an ending it’s the celebration of a new beginning. As students, when you commence, you actually begin a new chapter in your life.

When was the first graduation ceremony?

The graduation ceremony dates back to the 12th century. Some feel it began with scholastic monks with their ceremonies in robes and has evolved to fit the society in which it is celebrated ever since.

Why is commencement at the end of the year?

Often referred to as “Graduation”, the Commencement ceremony is just that, a ceremony. It is an end-of-spring semester celebration for students projected to successfully complete all of their graduation requirements by the end of that Spring or Summer semester.

Who is the audience at a commencement address?

The audience is comprised of both professionals and lay persons—graduates, family and loved ones, staff, faculty members, administrators, and others. They come from diverse backgrounds and it is surprising how simple it is to offend one or more of them. Know what the commencement address is and is not about.

What is the difference between commencement and graduation?

Commencement is often referred to as “graduation,” but it is different. The commencement ceremony is just that, a ceremony. You will not receive a diploma at the commencement ceremony, but you will receive a diploma cover. Confirmation of degree completion will take place once all official grades are posted.

Can I still graduate if I have one class left?

If you’re failing a class before graduation, you won’t graduate. If you can’t adjust course and get a passing grade, or it’s too late, you’ll have to retake the class the following semester in order to get your degree (both for High School or College.)

Do they read your full name at graduation?

Most do so at school-specific ceremonies—for example, engineering graduates will have their names read at the engineering-school ceremony—and not during a university-wide commencement. The reasons for calling out every graduate’s name are simple: It’s a way for a college to honor a student personally.

Why do they throw hats at graduation?

Upon graduation for the Class of 1912, graduates were given their new officer hats, deeming their midshipmen hats unnecessary, prompting them to toss the old ones into the air as a form of celebration. The act of throwing caps in the air is now widely known as a symbolic act to end a chapter of the graduate’s life.

Is commencement the same as graduation?

What makes a good commencement address?

It is not about the speaker; it is about the graduates and their guests. The message should be uplifting and should deal with education, wisdom, the future, and what the graduates have accomplished. It is about the sacrifices made by graduates and those near and dear to them.

Where does the word commencement come from in English?

Meaning “school graduation ceremony” attested by 1850, American English, originally in colleges, in reference to the ceremonies by which members of the graduating class are made (“begin to be”) bachelors, masters, etc. ( commencement in the sense of “entrance upon the privileges of a master or doctor in a university” is from late 14c.) ;

Where does the tradition of graduation come from?

History of graduation. Ceremonies for graduating students date from the first universities in Europe in the 12th century. At that time Latin was the language of scholarship. A “universitas” was a guild of masters (MAs) with licence to teach.

Where did the first graduation party take place?

Graduation parties are not a modern invention, but they might have changed a bit over the years. Jo Measure recounts graduation parties in Montana in the 1920s that included ten-day hikes, and backpacking trips stretching 150 miles.

When did cap and gown graduation ceremony start?

Today, each graduating student need not give a sermon; an educator associated with the university or a guest well respected by the school now does it. The traditional graduation dress of cap and gown started in the 13th and 14th centuries when universities began forming throughout Europe, Cooper said.