History

September 26, 1960
First Honorary Degree presented to George R. Cooley during opening convocation of the university.

The next Honorary Degree would not be presented until 1969.

1963
1st graduation: 325 degrees conferred.

June 14, 1970
Edith Green, former member of the Florida House of Representatives, is the first woman to receive an Honorary Degree from USF, receiving an Honorary Doctor of Law.

June 13, 1971
John Allen (USF’s first President) receives Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. His wife, Grace Allen would later receive a Doctor of Humane Letters on October 18, 1996.

1974
President’s Distinguished Citizen award created. Awarded that year to Tommy Howard and Terrell Sessums.

1988
President’s Fellow Medallion award created. Presented in Fall to Jane Cook.

April 21, 1999
New academic mace is unveiled during a retiring faculty celebration event. Mace was designed by Harrison Covington.

February 23, 2000
USF Presidential regalia debuts with the inauguration of President Judy Genshaft. Her robe is the first institutional regalia for a USF President.

2001
Regalia developed and introduced for Board of Trustee members.

December 13, 2003
100th Honorary Degree from USF presented to Delia Sanchez, Doctor of Humanities.

May 1, 2004
Third ceremony added to Tampa campus.

May 7, 2005
First Graduate ceremony held, just for Doctoral, Educational Specialists, and Masters students. 485 graduates attend. Special program printed just for graduate ceremony.

August 13, 2005
Two Commencement ceremonies now held at the Tampa campus in Summer.

May 6, 2006
During 50th anniversary celebration, university debuts institutional doctoral regalia.

Also debuts new President’s Chain of Office, worn by President Judy Genshaft and engraved with the names of USF’s former presidents.

December 16, 2006
Inaugural President’s Global Leadership award presented to Nava Ben-Zvi, President of Hadassa College, Israel.

May 3, 2007
Institutional regalia for Campus Executive Officers/Vice Presidents over autonomous programs debuts with Stephen Klasko, College of Medicine Commencement. At this time, only the College of Medicine VP and Regional Chancellor of USF St. Petersburg have the regalia.

December 15, 2007
Went to three ceremonies for Fall, debuting a graduate ceremony at 6 p.m. Ceremonies are now at 9 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. for Fall.

Introduced institutional regalia for the Alumni representative, first worn by Michele Norris, Alumni Association President-Elect.

May 2, 2008
Added a fourth ceremony to Tampa campus. Ceremonies are now Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.