What, exactly, is a mace, anyway? Why does each of the university’s schools have a different flag, and how can I tell them apart? And what’s that chain GW President Ellen M. Granberg is wearing around her neck? If you’ve ever wondered about the answers to questions like these, we’ve got you.
The George Washington University’s Commencement ceremony, scheduled for Sunday, May 18, on the National Mall, involves rites and symbols hallowed by tradition dating back years, if not centuries. Commencement Day is the end and climax of every academic year, the moment that everything has been building toward for months. With all of the pomp, ceremony, drama, laughter and tears around, you won’t be left out of the loop.
Let’s start with the flags and gonfalons. GW’s Commencement begins with an academic procession that includes the presentation of school flags, accompanied by gonfalons (banners hung from crossbars). The gonfalons reflect the university’s colors, buff and blue, while the banners show colors representing that school’s field of study. Students from each of the university’s 10 schools are selected to carry, or escort, their school’s flag and gonfalons, which are presented in the order of the founding of their school or college.
An academic flag gives schools an easy way to represent their unique identity and draw on their history and traditions. Its colors and symbols reflect the particular school’s values. Flags also foster pride and a sense of belonging.
The flag of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences shows a book on a field of blue, representing philosophy. The flag of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences shows the wand of Asclepius, the Greco-Roman god of medicine, against a green field.
The CCAS flag and gonfalons at the 2024 Commencement ceremony. (William Atkins/GW Today)
The flag of GW Law has a figure of blind Justice with a sword to symbolize power and scales to represent the impartiality of law. Lady Justice is shown on a purple field, the traditional color of the legal discipline.
The flag of the School of Engineering and Applied Science bears an orange circle against a white background. The Graduate School of Education and Human Development’s flag signals its commitment to lifelong learning with a torch and books against a light blue field.
Graduates lift the SEAS flag and gonfalons at Commencement in 2024. The School of Business flag is visible behind them.
On its flag, the School of Business presents its medal of achievement on a khaki-colored field. The Elliott School of International Affairs has a flag showing the landmasses of the Earth against a white background and a red border.
The Milken Institute School of Public Health shows a green cross on its flag, against a salmon background with a green border. The College of Professional Studies has a lighthouse against a beige background.
Graduates carry flags and gonfalons in the 2024 Commencement ceremony.
Last in the procession (but first in the hearts of many), the flag of the School of Nursing portrays a shield with the lamp of learning against a background of apricot and navy blue.
It is traditional to end the university’s academic ceremonies with the Fight Song and Alma Mater. Those who are able are asked to stand during the playing of these songs. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, families and guests should sing along to show their GW Revolutionaries pride—the more voices singing along, the more spirit we show!
Fight Song
Hail to the Buff,
Hail to the Blue,
Hail to the Buff and Blue!
All our lives we'll be proud to say,
We hail from GW! (Go Big Blue!)
Oh, by George, we're happy we can say,
We're GW, here to show the way, so
Raise high the Buff!
Raise high the Blue!
Loyal to GW
You bet we're
Loyal to GW!
Fight!
Alma Mater
Hail Alma Mater
To thy spirit guiding,
Knowledge thy closest friend
In its strength abiding,
Pledge we fidelity
Ne'er its place resigning,
Hail thee George Washington!
Now, for a look at symbols of the university, including the mace, the chain of office and presidential regalia.
Above and below, two views of the university mace. (William Atkins/GW Today)
The University mace was redesigned for the inauguration of President Ellen M. Granberg. (William Atkins/GW Today)
The University Mace
A new university mace was commissioned for President Granberg’s inauguration in November 2023. Historically, maces were used as weapons, first on battlefields and then to protect university rectors from mischief. The GW mace bears an image of George Washington and of the university’s seal as well as “1821” (the year the university was chartered by Congress).
The university seal appears in 3-D on the GW chain of office. (William Atkins/GW Today)
The Chain of Office
The GW chain of office, worn by the president of the university as a symbol of authority, accents the president’s academic regalia. The university seal is supported by a chain of circles, squares and rectangles alternately showing the letters “GW,” the year of the university’s charter in 1821 and an image of George Washington.
The seal of George Washington University incorporates an image of the head of George Washington, as famously painted by Gilbert Stuart. Above the image of Washington, an open Bible shows a Gospel verse in Greek. According to John 1:1-4, on the left page: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” and, on the right page: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” The words “Deus Nobis Fiducia,” (God in our trust) appear above and to the left and right.
President Ellen M. Granberg at the podium during Commencement 2024.
Presidential Regalia
The presidential gown features four velvet chevrons on each sleeve—an honor reserved for university presidents—and is trimmed in a braided buff silk cord. The wool costume is completed with a tam in matching blue velvet and a gold bullion tassel. This symbol of office is worn at academic convocations, commencement and other occasions.
For more information about Commencement and any updates, go online to Commencement.gwu.edu.
