Commencement

Regalia

Regalia refers to the special, formal clothing, symbols or emblems worn during official or ceremonial occasions. For the FSCJ Commencement Ceremony, regalia may refer to caps, gowns, tassels, cords and stoles worn by students, faculty and the platform party.

Cap, Gown and Tassel

The caps, gowns and tassels worn by graduates and faculty are based on academic costumes used in 14th and 15th century English universities.

FSCJ graduates and candidates for bachelor’s degrees wear navy blue regalia, while FSCJ graduates and candidates for adult education and associate degrees wear turquoise regalia.

At FSCJ, students may decorate their cap if the content adheres to the FSCJ Expectations of Student Conduct found in the College Catalog.

Prior to graduation, all students should wear tassels on the right side of their cap and shift their tassel to the left side of their cap after their degree is officially conferred.

Cords and Stoles

The tradition of cords and stoles in American graduation and commencement ceremonies date back to practices of distinguishing clergymen’s status in Anglican and Catholic churches. As many of the early universities in the United States were founded by clergymen, those traditions carried forward. Today, the different color cords and stoles worn by FSCJ students represent their participation in various honor societies, professional organizations, student organizations and specialized scholarship programs. The description of the different colored cords and stoles can be found in the FSCJ Commencement Program.

Presidential Insignia of Office

College presidents or chief executive officers often wear a badge of office during ceremonial occasions such as commencement or inauguration ceremonies. The FSCJ Presidential Insignia of Office was created as part of the College’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. FSCJ District Board of Trustees Chair Tom Majdanics and FSCJ Vice President and Provost Dr. Judith Bilsky presented the Insignia of Office to Dr. Cynthia Bioteau during her Presidential Investiture in 2016. The Insignia of Office has been worn by the FSCJ President during commencement ceremonies and inaugurations since then.

The current Insignia of Office is brass die struck with an antique finish and weighs 8.9 ounces. The insignia features the College Seal, adopted during the College’s first academic year, which shows a lamp with a flame at the center of a large five-pointed star and five smaller stars beneath it.

The five points of the star represent the College’s constant concern for the development of its students; an insistence on master teaching; the drive for achievement of College goals in the community, state and nation; being a college of renown, known for its successes, leadership and services to its students, community and the education professions; and a college of service to the community, the state and the nation.

The word “Libertas” at the top of the seal represents the freedom to learn, to search for new knowledge and to grow toward the positive fulfillment of individual freedom. The year 1965 on the seal indicates when the College was established.

In 2025, a second FSCJ Presidential Insignia of Office was purchased to coincide with the unveiling of FSCJ’s new official mascot, the Manta Ray, and features the College branded colors of turquoise and navy blue.

FSCJ Ceremonial Mace

The use of ceremonial maces in higher education dates to 15th century Scotland and now symbolizes the search for knowledge as well as an institution’s authority to award academic degrees to graduates.

Used during ceremonies such as commencement and presidential inaugurations, the FSCJ Ceremonial Mace is carried by the Faculty Senate President in the ceremony processional and placed at the front of the stage in full view of all. The mace is removed at the end of the ceremony and carried out during the recessional to symbolize the end of the proceedings.

In 2000, the idea of having a ceremonial mace was introduced during a Faculty Senate Meeting, as the College, then known as Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ), was moving toward becoming a four-year institution with separate colleges. The mace would be a way to recognize FCCJ faculty in the same professional manner universities recognize their faculty. FCCJ Faculty Senate President Teresita (Tessie) Bond approached College leadership about creating a ceremonial mace.

South Campus Trades Worker and amateur woodworker Eugene Clyde Gray was tasked with the job. Gray spent four months designing, building and finishing the mace, which was crafted from a solid piece of dried white oak lumber turned on a wood lathe and adorned with brass fittings. With the brass fittings, the mace is 3 feet, 6 inches long, and a medallion with the College Seal is attached with turquoise ribbon. Professor Bond saw the finished mace for the first time during the 2000 Commencement rehearsal. As it was very heavy (the mace weighs 6 pounds 16 ounces), it was suggested that she carry it on her shoulder, which she proudly did. Since then, the mace has been carried at every Commencement Ceremony by the following Faculty Senate Presidents:

• Professor Tessie Bond – 2000-02
• Professor Roger Breen – 2003-04
• Professor Wayne Bailey – 2005-06
• Professor David Bowen – 2007-08
• Dr. Nancy Mullins – 2009-10
• Professor Rachelle Wadsworth – 2011-12
• Dr. Jason Gibson – 2013-14
• Dr. John Woodward – 2015-Current

Processional

The processional signifies the start of the commencement ceremony and often is accompanied by “Pomp and Circumstance” music. The graduates are the first group to walk onto the floor, followed by the faculty and then the platform party. If able to do so, all guests, graduates and faculty should remain standing until the Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem and FSCJ Alma Mater are complete.

FSCJ Alma Mater

The FSCJ Alma Mater is a song to foster school spirit. The lyrics of the original alma mater were written in 1991 by Carol Varney, a project coordinator at Deerwood Campus, as part of a Collegewide contest to create an alma mater and fight song for the College’s 25th anniversary. Set to the tune of “Ode to Joy,” the alma mater debuted at a Founder’s Day celebration at North Campus in April 1992 and was first performed at Commencement the following month. The new FSCJ Alma Mater was written by Professor Edith Moore Hubert’s Theory IV class in Spring 2026. It debuted at the Chorale concert in April before going on to be performed at that year’s Commencement Ceremony. The lyrics to the new FSCJ Alma Mater are as follows:

FSCJ Alma Mater, soaring high near ocean shores,

Navigating unsure currents, moving onward ever more!

Guided by the light of learning, pathways wide for every dream!

Veering, rising, to new waters, growth for seasons yet unseen.

Recessional

The recessional signifies the end of the commencement ceremony. The platform party is the first group to exit the floor, followed by the faculty and then the graduates.