Enduring Traditions: Celebrating Milestones at Howard University's Graduation

Howard University, a historically Black university with a rich legacy, cherishes its graduation traditions, marking significant milestones in the academic journeys of its students. These traditions, steeped in history and symbolism, foster a sense of community, belonging, and pride among students, alumni, faculty, and staff. From the Pinning Ceremony to the Commencement Convocation, each event celebrates the accomplishments and dedication of Howard graduates.

Recognizing Graduate Student Achievements

The Graduate School at Howard University acknowledges the hard work and dedication of its graduate students through various celebratory events. These events recognize milestones and accomplishments. These include the Pinning Ceremony at Orientation, the Graduate Recognition and Hooding Ceremony, the White Coat Ceremony, and Howard's Homecoming celebration.

The Graduate Recognition and Hooding Ceremony

The Graduate School’s Annual Recognition and Hooding Ceremony is a significant rite of passage. It represents the culmination of years of hard work for master's and doctoral degree candidates. To be eligible, the candidates must have fulfilled all the requirements to receive their respective graduate degrees. During the Recognition and Hooding Ceremony, each candidate is recognized by their department as they walk across the stage. Deans, department chairs, and guest speakers honor students' achievements and dedication to research. The milestone event features the Doctoral Walk, a ceremonial procession of doctoral candidates led by African drummers as a tribute to the African ancestors on whose shoulders they stand.

The White Coat Ceremony

The Graduate School’s White Coat Ceremony is an annual tradition. It marks the entry of an incoming class of Speech-Language Pathology graduate students into the Communication, Sciences, and Disorders department. It also marks their entry into their clinical and research experiences. This rite of passage for beginning students honors their commitment to careers reflective of empathy, compassion, and care. During the ceremony, Howard Graduate School deans and faculty members recognize students as they don their first white coats. The White Coat symbolizes the oath of commitment students take to dutifully serve and care for their patients.

Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society

Named for the first African American doctoral recipient in the United States (Yale, Physics, 1876), the Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (BGHS) promotes diversity and excellence in doctoral education. The Society seeks to develop a network of scholars who exemplify academic and personal excellence. They also serve as examples of scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy for those who have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy. Each April, a group of nominated Bouchet Scholars is inducted into the Bouchet Honor Society at the Annual Yale Bouchet Conference typically held in New Haven, CT.

Read also: Tuition and Fees at Howard

The Pinning Ceremony

The Pinning Ceremony is a symbolic welcoming of incoming students into the Graduate School community. New students are presented with official Howard pins by Graduate School faculty and staff. For many students and alum, the pin holds the symbolic value of community and belonging. In the Spring 2021 Issue of Howard Magazine, Dana Williams-Johnson, a Ph.D. student in the Communications Culture and Media Studies program at the Graduate School remembers the first time she received a Howard pin as an incoming college freshman and recounts returning to Howard as an instructor and receiving the pin during new faculty orientation: "The orientation leader passed pins out and welcomed us all as new faculty to Howard University. I kept swirling that pin around in my palm, feeling all the things I felt back in 1996. I was a Bison."

Research Month

Howard dedicates an entire month to research. Research Month is part of Howard’s ongoing efforts to advance the university’s research mission and celebrate its distinguished research enterprise. The month showcases the breadth and depth of research innovation and creativity being conducted by Howard's faculty, students, and research staff across all disciplines. The month’s activities range from guest speakers and workshops to a research symposium that expands multidisciplinary collaboration opportunities.

Homecoming Celebration

Howard's Homecoming Celebration welcomes students, alumni, staff, and friends to its campus for several key Homecoming events including the Homecoming football game and Bison Pep Rally, the Fashion Show, Greek Life Step Show, Homecoming Day of Service, Yard Fest, and the Lavender Reception. It is a celebration of fellowship that brings together alumni and current students to celebrate community at Howard.

The Commencement Convocation: A Culmination of Achievement

Convened on the Upper Quadrangle of Howard’s main campus, the Commencement Convocation is the culmination of a major chapter for the hundreds of students officially being conferred degrees from one of the world’s most storied and distinguished universities.

Historical Context

Records from the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center indicate that the earliest versions of Howard’s commencement were programmed toward the end of June. However, according to The Chronicle on Higher Education, universities nationwide began reimagining their academic calendars in the late 1800s. By the turn of the twentieth century, Howard’s commencement exercises were being held no later than the first Friday of the month, often serving as the grand finale to a week overflowing with festivities. Since Howard’s academic year began concluding between the end of April and first days of May, the University’s Commencement Convocation has been subsequently rescheduled to the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend. While the rationale behind the rearrangement does not appear to be documented, the idea that Howard’s commencement and Mother’s Day occur in conjunction cannot be mere coincidence, says Andrew Rivers, director of protocol and events at Howard University.

Significance and Process

Commencement ought to feel special for those who have shown the tenacity to power through and finish their Howard degree. As students (and their parents) can attest, becoming a Howard alum is no small feat. Correspondingly, the University’s honorary degree recipients undergo a thorough nomination process facilitated by the Office of the Secretary; top nominees are frequently at the vanguard of their profession. At the conclusion of the nomination period, the secretary and University’s president present the candidates to the executive committee. “[The degree recipients] all have to be approved by the Board [of Trustees], because we are actually conferring a degree on them,” Rivers explains.

The Commencement Orator

Although proposed commencement orators experience a similar nomination process, the schema has commonly been more targeted to secure especially sought-after speakers, such as entertainers, politicians, and even heads of state. To date, six sitting United States presidents have served as Howard’s commencement orator: Calvin Coolidge (1924), Herbert Hoover (1932), Harry Truman (1952), Lyndon Johnson (1965), and Barack Obama (2016). George H. W. president to provide the keynote address at Howard’s 155th commencement exercises, where he will also receive the honorary Doctor of Letters. Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA, president of Howard University, called it “an honor and privilege” to welcome President Biden during the University's announcement. Award-winning actor, literacy advocate and commencement orator LeVar Burton addresses a class of more than 3,000 graduates after receiving an honorary doctorate degree in Humane Letters at Howard University on May 10. “Only in America could a descendant of slaves - for whom, simply knowing how to read just a few generations ago was a crime punishable by whipping or death - could grow up and become a celebrated champion for literacy and written word,” Burton said. “This is still a land of great promise and opportunity yet untold.

Preparing for Commencement

Get excited for your big moment as you prepare for Commencement celebrations! It’s your moment to be recognized for all you’ve accomplished at Howard, and we’re here to help you do it. Everything you need for your big day is right here. From making sure you’re eligible to graduate to requesting accommodations for your guests, find everything you need to prepare for Commencement. Be sure to complete these tasks and view corresponding due dates, so you don't miss any deadlines.

Share Your Journey

You've been on a journey, along with those who have supported you along the way! We invite you to submit up to 4 photos that embody your graduate academic journey at Howard and the people who have supported you along the way (i.e., a photo of you and your family/friends/mentors) and to share a few words of advice for fellow graduates. We'll include it in a rolling video gallery during the Graduate School Recognition Ceremony.

Eligibility and Application

Talk with your advisor(s) to ensure you are on track with degree completion requirements and to determine your eligibility to graduate in the Spring semester. If you are a Spring prospective graduate, to participate in commencement activities, you must apply to graduate (use the BisonHub guide "Apply for Program Completion" to complete this process).

Transcript and Financial Status

Check your unofficial transcript for missing or incomplete grades from a prior semester and reach out to your professor(s) to submit a change of grade request. Log on to BisonHub > Student Account > View and Pay Your Bill and ensure that you have no outstanding obligations, financial charges, or financial holds that would prevent you from participating in Commencement ceremonies. Complete the online loan exit counseling required of all borrowers of federal and University-administered student loan programs.

Accessibility

The University's Commencement organizers will provide services to graduates and guests who need accommodations.

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