
HWS Coordinate Heritage
History of the Colleges


In 1943, during the administration of President John Milton Potter, William Smith College was elevated from its original status as a department of Hobart College to that of an independent college, on equal footing with Hobart.Today, HWS is a coeducational campus. Hobart and William Smith students maintain their own deans, athletic departments and student governments. Each college celebrates its history through a series of time-honored traditions beginning when each student matriculates and lasting through graduation. The Colleges celebrate their position as one of the few remaining coordinate systems in the nation, providing students a truly unique experience and a 21st century construct to interrogate gender and difference.
Coordinate Traditions
MATRICULATION EXERCISES
Upon arriving to campus for Orientation, students and their families are personally greeted by the president before moving to the Hobart and William Smith tent to sign their name in the matriculation book. On the eve of the first day of classes, new students are invited to attend matriculation ceremonies hosted by the Dean’s Offices.
Dating back to Hobart College’s inception, this ceremony is marked by a roll call of all new students in which each student is called to receive a certificate of matriculation and touch an Oar that marks them as Hobart students.
One of the oldest traditions of William Smith College, new students are welcomed by the deans and current student leaders and celebrate their matriculation with the greater William Smith community.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
The Hobart and William Smith Dean’s Offices recognize the academic and social achievements of their students at celebratory events each spring semester.
Students and distinguished alumni come together to recognize the best of Hobart student achievements.
Celebrating Excellence Dinner
The academic achievements of William Smith students are recognized and new members of the Laurel Honor Society for outstanding sophomores and juniors are inducted.
Students gather by class at the top of William Smith Hill and process down The Hill with the seniors carrying a laurel rope. The event culminates with the passing of the laurel from the seniors to the juniors and all students “Moving Up.” Academic awards are given, new members of the Hai Timiai Honor Society are inducted and the Dean reflects on the year.
HONORING OUR HERITAGE
In honor of John Henry Hobart and William Smith, the community gathers each year to mark the founding of Hobart College and William Smith College.
The campus community commemorates the founding of Hobart College and the day on which a provisional charter from the State Regents of New York officially brought the college into being. New inductees are welcomed to the Hobart honor societies and a distinguished alum is invited to speak.
Students, alumnae, administrators and faculty members gather to celebrate the establishment of the College and the achievements of its women. A notable William Smith alum addresses the community and engages in a public dialogue.
ALUMNI/AE WELCOME
Hosted by the Alumni and Alumnae Associations, soon-to-be graduates are officially welcomed into the alum community during graduation weekend.
Each member of the Hobart class is given an oar in celebration of his alma mater, its heritage and the promise of a reciprocal lifelong bond.
The William Smith seniors are toasted by the alumnae, plant a class pine tree and each member receives a pine tree charm in honor of the College’s nurseryman founder.
Contemporizing Coordinate
Since the “Culture of Respect” report was published in 2015 recommending that the Colleges’ coordinate structure be contemporized to meet the needs of 21st century students, the Colleges have heard from many members of the HWS community who have expressed their views with passion and enthusiasm. Learn about the Board of Trustees’ 2018 resolution on coordinate and the work that has been accomplished to date.