Processional
Student Banner Bearers
- Brittany Haley, ’25 BFA Animation & Illustration
- Nishanth Swarna, ’25 BFA Animation & Illustration
Announcement of the Commencement
Shannon Miller, Dean, College of Humanities and the Arts
National Anthem
Victoria McDowell, ’25 Vocal Performance
Welcome
Shannon Miller, Dean, College of Humanities and the Arts
Presiding
Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President
Presentation of Candidates
Vincent J. Del Casino Jr., Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Conferring of Degrees
Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President
Alma Mater
SJSU Quartet featuring Rebekah Burns, ’25 Vocal Performance; Danae Johnson, ’24 Vocal Performance; Jhony De Oliviera, ’25 Music Performance, 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 tassel 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.