Baccalaureate Ceremony

Church of St. Paul the Apostle, May 20, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.

The origin of the Baccalaureate Ceremony dates back to the Middle Ages when meaningful symbols were associated with the conferring of a degree. One of these symbols is the academic hood. The hood is presented during the baccalaureate ceremony. Originally worn as a head covering in the cold schools of the middle ages, the hood is now used to identify a graduate's academic institution and degree. The Marymount Manhattan College hood is lined with the college's colors, blue and white. The velvet color on the outer edge of the hood denotes the graduate's degree - -white for arts and letters, gold for science, and brown for fine arts. The combination of the institutional and departmental colors represents a scholar's academic achievement.

The Baccalaureate ceremony is a highlight of the academic year. It is a joyous occasion for the entire college community: a time to rejoice, to praise, to honor and to celebrate with each other the life of learning, so richly shared by members of this community. It is especially a time to recognize - in a formal manner — the achievements of our friends and colleagues. During the Baccalaureate Ceremony, students who are in honor societies and who have earned academic excellence are recognized.

All graduating seniors who are planning to attend Commencement and/or Baccalaureate must pick up their senior packet during designated days and times in early May (to be advertised later). These materials will consist of, caps, gowns, hoods, and tickets to both ceremonies. Should a graduating senior neglect to pick up his/her packet or contact the Office of Student Affairs to make alternate arrangements he/she will not receive any Commencement materials (i.e. academic attire and tickets).

For information graduation, please contact the Office of Student Affairs at (212) 774-0750.

Dr. Ghassan Shabaneh, Assistant Professor of International Studies, speaks to the graduates during Baccalaureate. Dr. Shabaneh earned the 2009 - 2010 Teaching Excellence Award.

Members of the platform party, which is comprised of the trustees and College administrators and faculty, sit as President Shaver addresses graduates during the ceremony at Church of St. Paul the Apostle.