The Tradition of Founders’ Day
Each year, on the second Thursday of October, the establishment of the University is celebrated on campus at Founders’ Day convocation.
Originally founded on Oct. 12, 1896, as the Alabama Girls’ Industrial School, UM has developed over the course of a century into the state’s premier public liberal arts institution.
The annual ceremony begins at 11 a.m. with UM faculty, clad in their processional regalia, leading graduating seniors into Palmer Hall. For seniors, Founders’ Day marks their first opportunity to officially don their black graduation robes with the Investiture of the Senior Class.
Investiture of the Senior Class
An annual tradition, the seniors march across Main Quad into the ceremony in Palmer Auditorium with graduation gowns in hand. Toward the end of the Founders’ Day convocation, the senior students rise as one and slip on their robes while family, friends, alumni, faculty and staff applaud in approval. This symbolizes the achievements each student has made in their academic endeavors to reach the point of graduation.
Founders’ Day 2024 Schedule
We’re celebrating 128 years of acknowledging our past while celebrating our future.
Oct. 10
Convocation
11 a.m.
Palmer Hall
Lunch (for all attending the Convocation)
12:30 p.m.
Anna Irvin
Harman Hall Open House*
2 p.m.
Harman Hall
Montevallo History Talk with Archivist Carey Heatherly
3:30 p.m.
Pat Scales Special Collections Room
Carmichael Library
UMNAA Founders’ Day Awards Dinner*
5:30 p.m.
Anna Irvin Dining Hall
*By invitation
Digital Backgrounds
Zoom and Computer Desktop Backgrounds
To add a background to your Zoom account, download the image to your computer. Right click on “Download Background” underneath the image and click on “Save Link As” to download the image.
Once you’ve downloaded the background image, open Zoom. Click the arrow near the video icon at the bottom left. Select “Choose a virtual background.” Here you can upload the image and set it as your background.
Phone Wallpapers
To add one of these images to your phone, download the image on your device. Tap or press on the image and wait for your device to prompt you to download it to your phone.
