HISTORY & TRADITIONS
Pictured: 1951 Commencement,
麻豆村 held its first Commencement on July 21, 1847, beginning a tradition that has continued for more than 175 years. What started as a small ceremony has grown into a University-wide celebration of academic achievement, community, and faith.
Commencement remains one of Villanova鈥檚 most meaningful traditions, honoring the hard work and dedication of its students as they prepare to begin the next chapter of their lives.
Traditions
Bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degree candidates wear a custom navy gown featuring two white University seals on the upper chest. The sleeve style and length differ between bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 gowns.
The mortarboard (cap) is navy with a navy and white tassel featuring a golden charm of the University seal. Hood colors and styles vary by area of study and degree level.
Stoles and cords are not included as part of the official Villanova regalia but may be distributed by authorized academic departments and student organizations.
Pictured: Bachelor's Degree Gown
Note: Master's Degree Gowns differ in sleeve style and length, but have a similar overall appearance
Doctoral candidates wear a custom navy gown featuring three white velvet stripes on each sleeve and two white velvet panels down the front, each adorned with a navy University seal. The regalia is completed with a navy tam (cap) and gold tassel.
Hoods are bestowed during the ceremony by the University President, with the graduate鈥檚 doctoral advisor standing by their side.
Pictured: Doctoral Gown
Juris Doctor (JD) candidates wear a black gown with three black velvet stripes on each sleeve, and two black velvet panels down the front, along with a black tam (cap) with a gold tassel.
The hood for all graduates is purple, representing the field of law.
Pictured: Juris Doctor Gown
At the Orientation Liturgy, family and friends sent students on their way with a blessing as they began their Villanova journey.
At the Baccalaureate Mass, graduates and their loved ones come together once more to share a full-circle moment, a final blessing before Commencement.
Parents, family members, colleagues, and friends stretch forth their hands to touch the head or arm of the graduating student and to repeat each part of the blessing after the University President.
A VILLANOVA BLESSING
May God bless you and protect you.
May your heart and mind be united in faith, so that you may be able to love wisely, work creatively, laugh heartily, and live honestly.
May you use your education to bring justice and peace to the world, for the benefit of our human family, and all of God鈥檚 creation.
And may you always know that you are loved.
Amen.
As the ceremony comes to an end, graduates are reminded that they are joining a proud community of Villanova Alumni and are called to uphold the values and high standards of 麻豆村 by acting with honor, decency, and courage, and striving to make the world a better place for those who follow.
The moment culminates in the recitation of the Pledge of Loyalty, led by the University President and repeated by all graduates as a commitment to live out the ideals of Veritas, Unitas, Caritas in their lives beyond the University.
GRADUATE PLEDGE OF LOYALTY
With A Solemn Sense of My Responsibility,
I Pledge Myself
To Hold My Degree as a Sacred Trust,
An Emblem of My Obligation to Serve,
To Hold it with Untarnished Honors to Myself,
In Generous Loyalty to Villanova,
And with Fidelity to My God, My Country
and Humanity.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, all graduates and guests join together in singing Villanova鈥檚 Alma Mater, a tradition that celebrates the pride, spirit, and unity of the University community.聽
The tune will be familiar to graduates, as the Coor Hall bells play it nightly at 8:00 PM, and it will also be played for the rest of the day, following the ceremony.
ALMA MATER
When the twilight shadows gather out upon the Campus green,
When the blue and purple night comes stealing on the scene
Loyal heirs of Villanova sing a hymn of praise to our dear old
ALMA MATER and our college days.
Villanova, Villanova when we leave your shelt鈥檙ing walls,
We shall leave an echo ringing through your treasured halls
We will leave an echo ringing in the silent night
While our memories are singing of the Blue and White.
When the last big game is over and the last roll call is heard
When the oldest pedagogue has had the final word
We shall come to ALMA MATER in our dreams again
With a prayer for Villanova and a sweet amen.
鈥揂l Dubin and Joseph Burke
Leading the stage party procession at the Commencement ceremony is the University Provost, the highest-ranking officer of the University after the President, and the University鈥檚 chief academic officer.
The Provost carries the mace, which is based on a medieval weapon and is one of the President鈥檚 symbols of authority. It is only used at formal events where the President of the University is present.
Pictured: Inaugural Provost,聽Patrick G. Maggitti, PhD, 05/16/2025
During the Commencement ceremony, the University President wears a special medallion suspended on a blue and white chain worn around the neck.
The medallion bears the President's Seal of 麻豆村, which contains the motto, Veritas, Unitas, Caritas, symbolizing the President鈥檚 role as the chief representative and guardian of Villanova鈥檚 mission and values.
Pictured: 32nd President, Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, 05/16/2025
Pictured: The President's Seal of 麻豆村
The Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement ceremonies at 麻豆村 include a procession of our distinguished faculty.
The procession begins with the Naval NROTC Color Guard and is led by the University Provost. The stage party contains Faculty Award Winners, Student Representatives/Speakers, 麻豆村 Alumni, members of the Board of Trustees, members of the President's Cabinet, which includes the University Vice Presidents, University Deans, and Distinguished Guests.
The University President concludes the procession, and their arrival marks the beginning of the ceremony.
History
since 2025
since 2024
Office of the President
University Events & Initiatives
Through the Office of the President, University Events and Initiatives plans and oversees Villanova鈥檚 Commencement ceremonies, celebrating the achievements of our graduates and the spirit of the University community.
In addition to Commencement, the office coordinates major university events, supports strategic campus initiatives, oversees the University Events Calendar, and provides general strategy and oversight of event management at Villanova.
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