Tutors

St. John’s faculty members are called “tutors,” who lead classes across the liberal arts curriculum. Instead of serving as content experts or lecturers, tutors guide discussion and act as model learners.

Funeral Games

In Santa Fe, freshmen celebrate the completion of their first reading—the Iliad—with the Funeral Games. After finishing Homer’s epic, toga-clad Johnnies reenact the glorious contests at the funeral of Patroclus, including tug-of-war, wheelbarrow races, and more.

Convocation and Signing the Register

The entire freshman class and new Graduate Institute students are part of Convocation, during which each of them signs the college register, shakes the president’s hand and receives a book to be used in class.

Ptolemy Stone

A Ptolemy Stone is an ancient device for measuring the angle of the sun compared to the earth, which is the basis for many navigational devices such as the sextant. A Ptolemy Stone is located on both campuses.

Waltz Parties

Both campuses enjoy active Waltz Committees. These dance enthusiasts hold dance lessons and host waltz parties, featuring many different themes. Lessons are held regularly and may include swing, waltz, polka, lindy hop and other styles depending on the time of year.

Croquet

St. John’s hosts the Annapolis Cup, a croquet match against the neighboring Naval Academy held every spring since the 1980s. The match attracts thousands of visitors to the Annapolis campus. The St. John’s team costume is kept a secret until introductions to the match.

Freshman Chorus

In Annapolis and Santa Fe, every freshman participates in chorus. The chorus performs at a handful of events throughout the year.

Seminar

Done since 1937, seminar is an unusual class in that it happens in the evening, and everyone has it at the same time. Students may dress up more formally for seminar, and typically students will spill out of class into common areas, where discussion often continues long into the night.

“Sicut Cervus”

Singing is popular on both campuses, including weekly gatherings of students, faculty and staff to sing “Sicut Cervus,” a song that has become an unofficial anthem of St. John’s.

Friday Night Lectures

Lectures are given nearly every Friday night on both campuses. Lectures are given by a mix of faculty members and outside speakers, and the lecture slot is occasionally used for concerts or even plays. A question period follows each lecture.

Prizes (for essays and others)

At the end of the year, prizes are awarded to an annual essay from each class (freshman, sophomore, junior and senior) as well as to original translations, original scientific experiments, original poetry, original artwork and original mathematics proofs.

Senior Prank

At the end of every school year, seniors perform skits, show videos and host an all-day cookout and party on campus. 

The Johnnie Chair

The same wooden chairs are used in all classrooms on each campus. Called the “Johnnie Chair,” each is made by E.A. Clore Sons Inc., a small, family-owned woodworking company in Virginia.

Collegium

Held each semester on both campuses, Collegium is a chance for students, faculty and staff to perform musical numbers for the St. John’s community.