The Presidential Investiture Ceremony is held during a president's first year at a university to grant them official authority of office as well as recognize and celebrate a new and exciting phase in the institution's history.

An academic procession will begin the ceremony that includes many university faculty members wearing their distinguished regalia representing their respective colleges of study. Music and greetings from friends of the university will accompany the ceremony during and after the procession respectively.

The ceremony will conclude with the tradition of the new president receiving the university's Presidential Medallion, which will represent then final transition of presidential duties and responsibilities being bestowed on the university's newest leader.

All faculty, staff, students, and friends of Governors State University are welcome to attend both events.

Registration is now closed for all Presidential Investiture events.

Business causal attire is suggested for all ceremony attendees, while semi-formal is recommended for the gala.

The governor’s mace, traditionally carried by the Faculty Senate President who leads the academic procession, is a symbol of the authority of the university as a degree-granting institution. The legal authority of the university is grounded in the intellectual authority of the distinguished faculty who follow in the procession.

In antiquity, the mace was a weapon used to establish the “authority” of the physically strong. Its transformation into a symbol of intellectual authority is both a tribute to and a reminder of the civilizing force of a university’s teaching, research and community service functions.

Engraved on the four side-panels of the governor’s mace are the seal of the State of Illinois; a cardinal, the state bird; the seal of the former Illinois Board of Governors Universities; and an inscription which reads “The governor’s mace, a symbol of tradition and authority of Governors State University, dedicated to the search for excellence in the pursuit of truth, knowledge and the love of learning. Presented by Peter Levin, friend of the university, June 2, 1979.”

Atop the mace is a silver rendition of the university logo. The three sides of the “triangle” symbolize the university’s teaching, research and community service functions. The three lines visually suggest the shape of a rocket; reminding us both that the university was founded within days of Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon and that the university is a hope-filled, pioneering community, committed to a better future for all men and women. The circle symbolizes the fact that the university is, indeed, a community. Finally, the fact that the tips of the triangle reach beyond the circle indicates the university’s outreach into the region, state and nation, and its commitment to teaching, research and community service.

The President’s Medallion is one of the grand traditions of higher education, symbolizing the authority and responsibility associated with the presidency.

The specially designed medallion is worn around the neck on a chain and compliments the dignity and symbolism of traditional academic regalia. The Governors State University President’s Medallion is worn whenever the president participates in ceremonies involving the use of academic regalia, including all such services held by other educational institutions on their campuses or in nearby facilities.

GSU’s Presidential Medallion signifies the authority conferred by the Board of Trustees upon the President as the chief executive officer of the university. By virtue of their office, the President is personally entrusted with the responsibility of promoting the mission and values of Governors State University.

Typically, the Medallion is presented at the Presidential Investiture, signaling the beginning of a newly appointed president’s tenure in office. Each Governors State University president has proudly worn the Presidential Medallion as a symbol of the responsibility of the office bestowed upon them.

For additional information regarding the investiture ceremony, please contact Penny Perdue at pperdue@govst.edu or 708-534-4130.

For additional information regarding the investiture gala, please contact Sara Tweddle at stweddle@govst.edu or 708-235-7559.