This is a list of key aspects of an ACU Commencement to assist you in preparing for this experience – those aspects highlighted in purple would be considered ACU Traditions and are a distinctive part of the ACU Commencement experience.
- Line Up – participants in Commencement at ACU will check-in at the Money Recreation and Wellness Center and then they will line up in the gyms there based on their program of study.
- Regalia – ACU has distinctive regalia for each level of graduate participating in Commencement. We do not allow any additions or decorations on the regalia (this includes on the hat or tam).
- The regalia for student earning a Bachelor’s Degree – includes the black student robe, mortarboard, tassel, purple stole, and the white escort robe.
- The regalia for student earning a Masters or Specialist Degree – includes the black Master’s robe, motarboard, tassel and Master’s stole.
- The regalia for student earning a Doctoral Degree – includes the ACU purple robe, purple tam with integrated silver tassel, and Doctoral stole.
- The regalia for student earning a Bachelor’s Degree – includes the black student robe, mortarboard, tassel, purple stole, and the white escort robe.
- Escorts – each ACU student graduating with a Bachelor’s degree selects someone as their escort who has provided significant encouragement and support for the student while they have pursued their degree. The escort will walk with them in the ceremony and then at the appropriate time in the ceremony they will place the academic hood on the graduate. The escorts wear a distinctive white robe with purple accent cuffs during the ceremony.
- Hooding the graduate – at the appropriate point in the ceremony, the Escorts will be directed to stand and hood the baccalaureate graduates. At that point, the escort will place the hood over the head of their graduate, taking care that the velvet is facing up, and they will pull back gently on the hood. Once it is in place, they will twist their wrists outward to allow the ACU colors (purple and white) to show inside the hood and then they will button the string together to help keep the hood in place. This video demonstrates what this looks like in the ceremony.
- The Processional – graduates (and their escorts during our ceremonies awarding undergraduate degrees) will follow our Commencement Marshals from the Money Recreation and Wellness Center line-up area to Moody Coliseum. At the appropriate point in the ceremony, they will enter the Coliseum floor and follow the Marshal to their seat.
- Worship – the first portion of the Commencement ceremony is a time dedicated to worship, including Scripture reading, prayer and acappella singing. During this time, gentlemen should remove their hats and the audience should remain seated and engage with the time of worship.
- Acappella singing – during the Commencement ceremony, we will sing 3 songs together and each will be sung acappella which means without musical accompaniment or with voices only. Those three songs (in the order they will be sung during the ceremony) are:
- Hymn – To God be the Glory
- ACU Alma Mater – Oh, Dear Christian College
- The Lord Bless You and Keep You – This song is sung at the end of many significant ACU events, and one of the distinctive aspects is that while standing the students place their arms over the shoulders of the people next to them and sway together while singing the song together.
- Purple Line Society Lapel Pin – At Commencement, each graduate receives a Purple Line Society lapel pin after they cross the stage to symbolize the continuing nature of them being a part of the ACU community. The pin can be worn by alumni while they are at work and as they travel back to campus.
- The Recessional – at the end of the ceremony, graduates (and their escorts during our ceremonies awarding undergraduate degrees) will follow our Commencement Marshals out of Moody Coliseum and back to the Money Recreation and Wellness Center.
- Reception in the “Mall Area” – Unless there is inclement weather, locations will be designated for graduates to gather after the recessional with faculty and fellow graduates from their program in the area south of Moody Coliseum which is generally referred to as the “Mall Area” extending from the GATA Fountain to the area north of McKenzie and Zellner Halls. Family members and friends can also meet their graduates at these designated locations.
- Other traditions you’ll likely encounter at Commencement:
- “Go Wildcats!” – Dr. Schubert will likely greet the graduates in this way during the ceremony. Everyone responds with “Go Wildcats!” in unison.
- WC – while singing the Alma Mater, students will display the WC hand sign (for the WildCats), which is formed by making an OK sign with your right hand and then separating the thumb and index finger to form a C.
