800 Years in the Making: The Meaning Behind an Investiture Ceremony
The first known Chancellor Investiture Ceremony in higher education in medieval Europe occurred more than 800 years ago on the campus of the University of Oxford in England. The role of a university chancellor looked vastly different from what it does for J. Michael Haynie, who will be sworn in as Syracuse University’s 13th chancellor and president at 2 p.m. Friday in the JMA Wireless Dome.
Investiture comes from the Latin word “investire,” which means “to clothe,” according to Chris R. Kyle, associate history professor in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.
During those early Investiture Ceremonies, which Kyle says were often held in unheated stone buildings, the church ran universities, and the professors were monks. Investiture Ceremonies carried with them a religious significance, with monks wearing modest robes with hoods to provide warmth as they presided over these ceremonies.
When the pilgrims came to America, Kyle says they brought with them the rites and rituals of those first Investiture Ceremonies, including wearing the “cappa clausa,” an oversized gown. Eventually, universities adopted mortarboards, scarves and stoles to their academic ceremonies.
When Chancellor Haynie is officially installed, he will also be wearing a medallion on a chain, containing the University’s motto in Latin, “suos cultores scientia coronat,” which translates to “knowledge crowns those who seek her.”
Investiture Ceremonies have evolved over the years, Kyle says, taking on objects that signify the authority of the office. Among them is the mace, carried at Syracuse University by macebearer Sam Clemence, the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor Emeritus.
“While these ceremonies are clearly symbolic, some symbolism is really important because an Investiture Ceremony reflects on who we are as a University, what we value and what’s really important to Syracuse University,” adds Cathy Engstrom, associate professor and faculty director of graduate studies in the School of Education.
Chancellor Haynie will become the first internally selected chancellor in more than 50 years. Ahead of his installation, Kyle and Engstrom sat down with Syracuse University Today to discuss the significance of Investiture Ceremonies.
Kyle: It’s not surprising that we’ve kept these traditions, because they’ve evolved over the years. We shifted from what was a fairly standard idea of the original hood and cape to nowadays distinguishing between different academic degrees. We have different gowns for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, and gradually these ceremonies started to separate different academic disciplines into their own colors so you could tell by the color of the hood which degree someone earned and in what subject.
Engstrom: One of the most important things is how an Investiture Ceremony reflects change, new opportunities and hope for what lies ahead. It also reflects continuity, too, because part of these ceremonies is about acknowledging where we’ve been, how we build upon where we’ve been and where, collectively, we’re heading.
It’s a celebration, an opportunity to remind ourselves to emphasize what we take pride in and what we’re excited about, and to reflect on those points of pride.
Kyle: An Investiture Ceremony shows off the authority of the chancellor. It shows off the stewardship of power and responsibility for our students, faculty and staff. As Chancellor Emeritus Kent Syverud said during his Investiture Ceremony, a chancellor is there to be the steward of the Office of the Chancellor. This is an office that is passed from one chancellor to another.
Each chancellor upholds the traditions of the University and maintains the University until the next chancellor takes over. For Chancellor Haynie, this is an opportunity for him to lay out his vision for Syracuse University’s future.
Engstrom: There’s hope because it represents new beginnings and new opportunities while building off the accomplishments of those who came before them. Chancellor Haynie is coming in at the best time because of his strengths as a leader, someone with a proven record of success on campus, which we will need in order to navigate the challenges facing higher education institutions. We are very fortunate that we have a chancellor who knows this institution well and has hit the ground running.
