Setting
the Stage:
The Investiture of
Renu Khator

SCHOLARSHIP DINNER
Celebrating Student and Faculty Accomplishments
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
6:30 P.M.
Hilton Americas
1600 Lamar Street

For ticket and table information, contact Beth Burroway at 713-743-8866 or ejburroway@uh.edu.

WHAT IS AN INVESTITURE?
Investiture: “formal ceremony of conferring the authority and symbols of high office.” In higher education, an investiture—traditionally held within a president’s first year in office—is a celebration replete with pomp and circumstance and is deeply immersed in the traditions of the academe.

Ceremonial Symbols

The Seal

Throughout history, seals have been used to authenticate official documents. The University of Houston’s and UH System’s seals bear the Official Seal of Arms of General Sam Houston, as handed down to him from noble ancestors. It includes the escutcheon in the center of the seal—consisting of checkered chevrons denoting nobility and three martlets, gentle lowland birds that symbolize peace and deliverance. A winged hourglass is above the shield. Surmounting this is the motto “In Tempore” (In time). The greyhounds indicate speed in giving aid. The UH seal was adopted in 1938 in conjunction with the establishment of the present campus. The first official version was etched into the floor of the Roy G. Cullen Building.

University Mace

The mace, which is carried in academic processions, is a staff symbolizing the university’s authority and unity. The tradition of the academic mace began in the late fourteenth century when two ancient instruments, the royal scepter and the battle mace, were combined to form a university president’s symbol of authority.

Presidential Medallion

The presidential medallion, or medal, is worn on ceremonial occasions. Currently, a medal is being designed and crafted specifically for President Khator.

Academic Regalia

The costume of the participants in the academic procession dates back to the fourteenth century. Academic institutions in the United States adopted a code of academic dress in 1895.

The bachelor’s gown has long, pointed sleeves; the master’s gown has oblong sleeves open at the wrists (some older gowns may be open near the upper arm); the doctoral gown is fuller than the others with full-length velvet panels on the front and three velvet crossbars on each sleeve in black or the color distinctive to the discipline of the wearer’s degree.

The hood drapes over the shoulders and down the back. It indicates the subject to which the degree pertains and the university that conferred the degree. The size of the hood indicates the level of the degree, with the doctorate having the largest hood.

The black mortarboard is the most common cap used. A velvet tam also may be worn by faculty members with doctoral degrees. The tassel, fastened to the center of the cap, normally is worn in the left front quadrant of the cap after the degree has been awarded.

The tassel may be black or the color appropriate to the subject of the degree. The doctoral cap’s tassel may be of gold thread.

UH PRESIDENTS