College of Humanities and the Arts San José State University

Commencement Program

Friday, May 24, 2024 6:30 p.m. Provident Credit Union Event Center — at San José State University

Processional

Student Banner Bearers

  • Thy Nguyen, ’24 English, Professional and Technical Writing
  • Karson Wells, ’24 Journalism

Announcement of the Commencement

John McClusky, Associate Professor, Design

National Anthem

SJSU Quartet featuring Rebekah Burns, Danae Johnson, Jhony De Oliviera, and Will Schneider

Welcome

Shannon Miller, Dean, College of Humanities and the Arts

Presiding

Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President

Congratulations from the SJSU Alumni Association

Wanda Hendrix, ’77 Sociology, ’94 MPA. Member, Alumni Association Board of Directors

Presentation of Candidates

  • Marc D’Alarcao, Dean, College of Graduate Studies
  • Shannon Miller, Dean, College of Humanities and the Arts

Conferring of Degrees

Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President

Alma Mater

SJSU Quartet featuring Rebekah Burns, Danae Johnson, Jhony De Oliviera, and Will Schneider

“Hail, Spartans, Hail”

Recessional

Regalia

Commencement exercises like today’s ceremony date back to the Middle Ages and the traditions of Europe’s first universities. Our graduates and members of the platform party are wearing regalia — robes, hoods and caps — that are likely adapted from the clothing of medieval priests or friars.

  • Presidential gown is adorned with four bars, representing the Office of the President.
  • Doctoral gown has velvet panels down the front and three velvet bars on each of the bell-shaped sleeves. The color of the velvet may indicate the academic discipline.
  • Master’s gown may be worn open and has long sleeves with slits above the elbow.
  • Bachelor’s gown has a closed front and long, pointed sleeves.

Draped over the shoulders, the hood evolved from a priest’s cowl and was often used tocarry items — the first backpack, perhaps. The lining colors signify the college or university granting the degree. At San José State, the hood is gold, blue and white. The monk’s skullcap became the mortarboard cap or tam. Black is the accepted cap color in the United States, but many foreign universities have colorful headdresses.

Tassels vary in use and color. At SJSU, the color of tassels for bachelor’s degree candidates represent each college. The color for the College of Humanities and the Arts is white.

The Ceremonial Mace

An ornamental staff or scepter, the mace is carried by officials as part of formal parliamentary or academic ceremonies. A gift from the Tower Foundation of SJSU, the university’s ceremonial mace was designed and created by Art and Art History Lecturer Yvonne Escalante, ’13 MFA Spatial Arts. She found inspiration for the design in both SJSU history and the paths students take to reach graduation.

Hail, Spartans, Hail!

Hail, Spartans, Hail!— Hail, gold, blue and white!
We pledge our hearts and hands to keep thy colors ever bright.
Forward we go! We will not fail!
Sing to our Alma Mater,
Hail! Hail! Hail!