Rituals of early commencements, 1870–1940

The early commencement ceremonies at American University of Beirut—then known as Syrian Protestant College—followed formal academic traditions that reflected both American university customs and the local cultural environment. Ceremonies included academic processions, commencement addresses, and the conferring of diplomas, with faculty and graduates wearing caps and gowns as symbols of scholarly achievement. Other traditions, such as the planting of class trees and the awarding of honorary degrees to distinguished individuals, strengthened the ceremonial and commemorative character of commencement exercises.