The College of Charleston

The third line from the first stanza of the College of Charleston's alma mater proclaims, "Proud tradition hover ‘round thee." It is a fitting lyric because this unique institution is distinguished in part by a strong sense of tradition. Some of the more prominent traditions maintained at the College are detailed here:

Graduation

Unlike at other colleges and universities, students completing their undergraduate degrees at the College of Charleston do not wear robes or caps for the spring commencement ceremony. Instead, students wear white dresses or white dinner jackets each spring at graduation. For decades, this annual tradition has taken place in the Cistern yard, where ancient live oak trees draped with Spanish moss set the stage and the College's oldest building, Randolph Hall, provides a fitting backdrop. December graduates participate in an indoor ceremony, and the dress code is black tuxedos for men and black dresses for women.

Convocation

Convocation is an annual celebration at which students and faculty gather to celebrate the official opening of the scholastic year. Originally, “convocation” denoted a gathering of the clergy or the divisions of a diocese; however, today, the word and the event have evolved from their ecclesiastical roots to embrace the intellectual community as well. The College’s convocation welcomes new students to the liberal arts and sciences community and encourages them to consider their own intellectual journey. This occasion also serves to familiarize incoming students with the College’s academic traditions as well as the institution’s history, symbols and mottos.

History

College of Charleston was the oldest college in SC before being destroyed in the washout. The ruins of the university stand as a testament to pre-War architecture. While the faculty and students may be long gone, the things they left behind have been the prize of many a scavenger willing to brave the campus.