Robing Process

Overview

The Office of Advancement coordinates Robing along with staff members from Student Life and Facilities. Robing is held on the same days as fall and spring graduations. The hour-long ceremony starts at 11:00 a.m. and is held in the sanctuary of the Polytechnic United Methodist Church on campus. Following the ceremony, a reception is held in the Louella Baker Martin Pavilion. The following is a description of the ceremony per the Undergraduate Catalog:

 “The Robing Ceremony, an academic convocation that had its beginning in 1927, expresses this warm and interdependent relationship between faculty and student. By asking a faculty member to vest her or him, the senior acknowledges the importance of this crucial interpersonal process.

 

The ceremony has made significant contribution to the rich heritage of the University; it is a vital part of the concluding activities of the student’s undergraduate career. Senior students eligible for graduation and thereby participation in the Robing Ceremony may select a person who has been meaningful to them for vesting of the Robe at the Robing Ceremony preceding the graduation program. Persons to vest the student must be eligible to wear academic regalia. Persons eligible include all faculty, full or part-time, and staff who hold faculty rank.”

 

Graduates who want to participate in the Robing ceremony MUST complete and return a “Robing card” to the Office of Advancement by the designated deadline, which is always the Friday before Robing. Robing cards are provided in the graduation packet or you can click here for a copy.

 

Day of Robing

 

Students

By 10:15 a.m., all graduates participating in Robing are in the Science Lecture Theatre (SLT) of the McFadden Science Center, with a program in-hand, and seated according to the group and seat number assigned to them. Staff members will call roll, make changes to the program as necessary, and notify the affected faculty. Please do not be late as your name might be deleted from the list. 

 

The Director of Development & Alumni Relations will call the students to order and instruct them on the following:

 

  • How to process into the church

  • How to enter and exit the pews

  • How to stand

  • How to be robed.

 

When it is time for the processional to begin, group 1 seat 1 leads his/her group; group 2 seat 1 follows the last student in group 1; group 3 seat 1 follows last student in group 2, and so on. 

 

The Assistant Director ensures the students are ready to begin their procession into the sanctuary promptly at 11:00 a.m.

             

Faculty

The faculty & platform party meet at 10:00 a.m. in the hall of McFadden where the faculty marshal, with the help of a staff member, puts them in processional order, based on the program. The faculty & platform party order are posted throughout the McFadden hall, as well.

 

 The faculty chair serves as the mace bearer and four faculty members, chosen by the Provost Office, serve as “marshals” for the Robing ceremony (grand marshal, faculty marshal, and 2 academic marshals). Marshals’ duties are to ensure everyone is lined up correctly to process into the sanctuary; lead their charges to the proper seats; and lead their group out at the conclusion.  Academic Marshals also guide graduates in/out of pews during the ceremony. 

 

Typically, faculty who have been selected to robe are the only faculty who attend the ceremony; however, all faculty are invited and encouraged to attend. 

 

Student Participants

Prior to the Robing ceremony, the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations will select four students to participate in the Robing program and perform the following duties:

  • Invocation

  • Presentation of the Golden Shears Award – one of Wesleyan’s oldest traditions for the recognition of students’ academic and extracurricular leadership

  • Presentation of the Graduation Gift – a graduating senior will present to the President

  • Alma Mater leader.

 Student Life will contact the Student Government Association President and Vice President to serve as Cross and Bible bearers in the processional.

 

ALL student participants listed above will meet in the McFadden hall by 10:15 a.m.

 

Student Life will also coordinate student volunteers to serve as ushers and distribute programs.  These students will meet in the sanctuary lobby of the Polytechnic United Methodist Church at 10:00 a.m.

 

 

 

 

Robing Process