What Are Symbolic Traditions in Higher Education and Why Do They Matter Now?

If you’ve ever been handed a diploma with one hand while frantically adjusting your cap with the other, you’ve participated in one of higher education’s most beloved symbolic traditions. These rituals, both big and small, have shaped the college experience for centuries, creating a sense of belonging that goes far beyond textbooks and tuition bills.

But in today’s increasingly digital landscape, where remote learning and virtual ceremonies are the norm, these traditions are evolving. So what exactly are symbolic traditions in higher education, and why should we still care?

Let’s dive in, regalia and all.

A Brief Tour of Traditions: From Medieval Gowns to Digital Badges

Symbolic traditions in academia can feel like they belong to another era (hello, medieval robes!), but they’re very much alive and well – and adapting faster than a freshman cramming for finals.

Here are a few classics:

• Commencement Ceremonies: Mortarboards, tassels, and the slow shuffle across a stage. It’s part ritual, part cardio.
• Honor Societies: Secret handshakes are optional, but that fancy cord or stole is pure status.
• Campus Rituals: Think bell-ringing after victories, secret societies with cryptic symbols, and elaborate initiation rites that probably should involve waivers.
• Awards and Emblems: From Latin honor medallions to department-specific pins, these markers honor achievement in ways LinkedIn posts just can’t replicate.

Originally, many of these symbols were military-inspired. Yes, your honor society pin has roots not unlike a medal of valor. Over time, academia embraced these traditions as badges of achievement, status, and, let’s face it, really good Instagram content.

The Meaning Behind the Medals (And Why We Still Need Them)

At their core, these traditions aren’t just for decoration or nostalgia. They play a vital role in:

• Building Community: Shared symbols connect students across graduating classes, fields of study, and even generations.
• Recognizing Achievement: Tangible awards make hard work feel seen – because sometimes a thumbs-up emoji just doesn’t cut it.
• Creating Memories: Rituals provide milestones in an otherwise blur-of-caffeine academic experience.

In the modern era, tangible tokens still matter, perhaps more than ever. As more students complete degrees remotely or miss out on traditional ceremonies, physical symbols of accomplishment have taken on new importance.

This is where items like challenge coins come in. Once exclusively a military tradition, challenge coins have been adapted for academia and professional organizations to provide a portable, personal symbol of belonging and achievement.

If you want to understand how these coins have made the leap from battlefield to graduation cap, check out this great resource: Learn About Challenge Coins.

Keeping Traditions Alive in a Digital World

So how can schools maintain these symbolic traditions when students are Zooming in from their kitchens?

Some innovative approaches include:

• Virtual Commencement Kits: Mailed-out caps, gowns, and even miniature diplomas (adorable and frameable).
• Digital Badges and Certificates: Shareable on social media, these honor achievements in a resume-worthy way.
• Custom Keepsakes: Items like challenge coins, customized keychains, or medallions sent to students to commemorate milestones.

Final Thoughts

While the format may change, the core purpose remains: to create a tangible sense of accomplishment, community, and continuity.

In an increasingly online and on-demand world, these little symbols remind students (and alumni) that they’re part of something bigger – a tradition of striving, succeeding, and maybe occasionally getting tangled up in graduation gowns.

Because at the end of the day, no matter where or how you earn it, your achievements deserve to be celebrated and remembered with something you can actually hold onto.