Commencement

News Writer, Office of Public Affairs: Neil Schoenherr Assistant to Director of Commencement: Linda Poeppelmeier

Home Page: http://commencement.wustl.edu Location: 276 N. Skinker Blvd. Email: lpoeppelmeier@wustl.edu Telephone: (314) 935-5985

Photo by Joe Angeles/WUSTL Photo

Commencement 2004 features WUSTL's sesquicentennial celebration with a new tradition -- green gowns for all graduates, modeled here by Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton (left) and trustee Chairman John F. McDonnell. The new gowns were designed by a member of WUSTL's faculty.

Washington University and other American universities, public and private, follow the pattern of degree granting developed at the University of Paris, which was founded about 1100. In the early days of the University of Paris, the discipline of students, and indeed their entire education, fell under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Paris who was responsible for local educational matters. In an attempt to perform his office, the Bishop claimed supervision of curriculum and degree-granting. Here he ran into trouble from the teachers who felt they were the proper judges of the qualifications of their students. They demanded the right to grant the degree.

The modern commencement ceremony represents a compromise between the Bishop and the teaching masters. By 1200 the masters judged the merits of the student and then recommended him to the Bishop who conferred the degree. The Commencement ceremony held at Washington University is the successor to this medieval compromise. The Faculty sits on the platform in its role as teacher and examiner. Its leaders, the Deans, present the qualified candidates to the Chancellor. Acting upon the recommendation of the Faculty, the Chancellor formally confers the appropriate degree.

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147th Commencement address Chris Matthews' address to the class of 2008 May 16, 2008 -- Transcript of Chris Matthews' Commencement address to the class of 2008.

'A willingness of the heart' Matthews urges graduates to grab hold of their place in history May 16, 2008 -- Be a person of your times but also of your country, said Chris Matthews to the Class of 2008 during Washington University's 147th Commencement ceremony. The journalist, political commentator and host of MSNBC's "Hardball" wove in a message of self-creation and optimism for America, telling the audience of more than 14,500 that the future of this country lies sketched out in the minds and hearts of the 2,655 graduates sitting before him. A slideshow of Commencement images is included.

An Important Message from the Chancellor Mark Wrighton addresses university's decision to award honorary degree to alumna Phyllis Schlafly May 14, 2008 -- Washington University Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton e-mailed the following message today to university faculty, staff and students about the controversy surrounding the decision to award Phyllis Schlafly an honorary degree at Commencement this Friday, May 16.

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