Historical Foundation
The inauguration ceremony, or investiture, is an academic tradition originating in English universities. The word “investiture” comes from the Latin phrase for “dress in robe,” and in an academic setting, the term refers to the donning of the college’s regalia.
Inauguration Ceremony
The inauguration ceremony is an important institutional event that formally marks a new era of leadership. The ceremony provides an opportunity for the college and its surrounding community to unite to celebrate the institution’s future. Faculty, staff, students and community stakeholders are all invited to attend. This event also serves to enhance the college’s visibility within the broader higher education community while continuing time-honored academic traditions, such as the procession of delegates, past and present college leadership and faculty members. Additionally, it allows the new president to address the entire college and share their vision for the institution’s future.
The ceremony typically features musical selections, greetings from college and community groups, introduction of the president, an address, the official transfer of the institutional leadership and the singing of the Alma Mater.
Regalia
Academic regalia reflects the highest degree a person has earned. The gown and hood often use colors associated with the institution that awarded the degree, while the hood color traditionally shows the field of study.
Bachelor’s gowns have long, pointed sleeves; master’s gowns have square sleeves with a curved edge; and doctoral gowns feature wide, open sleeves with three velvet bars. Doctoral gowns are also closed and trimmed with velvet panels.
Berry College Traditions
Berry College Mace
The Berry College mace was first carried on April 9, 1999, in the inaugural ceremonies for Berry College’s seventh president, Dr. Scott Colley. The mace was designed and crafted by Luther Pugh, a 1951 graduate of Berry’s high school, with assistance from his brother, Arthur Pugh, who graduated from Berry’s high school in 1952.
The Berry College mace features the traditional ball shape, topped with two sections styled after the finials located on the first level and upper levels of the Berry College Chapel. Three medallions are embedded in the mace. Each bears the college seal and symbolizes the three parts of Berry’s mission to educating the head, heart and hands.
Presidential Medallion
The official presidential medallion is cast in silver. It combines the college seal, the founding date of the institution and a reference to founder, Martha Berry, with the engraved names and years of Berry’s previous presidents. It’s designed to be worn over the shoulders of the academic gown and is worn by President Mazumder at official academic convocations and commencements.
The Berry College Seal consists of a scroll bearing the college’s motto, a shield inscribed with the four symbols upon which Martha Berry based her work – the open Bible, the log cabin, the lamp and the plow. The Bible was the foundation of the early school; it represents Berry’s Christian heritage. The log cabin represents simplicity, or in the words of a student in the early days, “our simple way of living – the very beginning.” The lamp symbolizes the desire to learn, and the plow stands for work.