Pomp and Circumstance: A Guide to Graduation

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The history of American academic regalia dates back to the colonial era and was heavily influenced by European traditions and styles of the time. The American dress did not begin to diverge from its European counterpart until well after the Revolutionary War. In 1893, an intercollegiate commission comprised of representatives of leading institutions met at Columbia College to standardize the official regalia across the board. This formalization was adopted in 1895 and gave us the basis and colors for our modern dress. This code was formally adopted by the American Council on Education (ACE) in 1932 and standardized our modern regalia. Every few decades ACE reconvenes a council to review and update the academic dress code so it better adheres to current traditions and practices. The last council met in 1959, before the socio-political upheaval of the 1960's. This cultural movement led to the cancellation of many graduation ceremonies as well as the relaxing of the strict regalia guidelines issued prior. This slack would eventually lead to the common practice of including honor accessories along with the traditional garb.

Historically, academic dress was worn on a daily basis, however in today's colleges and universities it is reserved only for graduation ceremonies, although there are exceptions, such as at Sewanee where one student society continues to wear their gowns to class. The academic dress traditionally consists of a gown, hood, cap and tassel with more modern additions based on institutional practice, office or honors. The traditional regalia has undergone several modifications over the years, largely led by ACE, as mentioned above, but for the sake of not confusing anyone I'll only go into detail on the current regalia.

Hooding is a separate graduation ceremony unto itself. During hooding, Masters' students and Doctoral candidates are "hooded" by their advisor or College Dean. Often times, these students will use this ceremony as their primary form of graduation and will not attend commencement. Although, there are those students who are especially giant pains in the ass who will attend commencement as well, adding one more minute each to that ridiculously long dog and pony show. In comparison, hooding is a relative short ceremony, there are no long winded commencement speakers and there a lot fewer names for the Provost or President to read. Given the opportunity, pick only hooding, your family and friends will thank you.

Encaenia is derived from Latin and means dedication or consecration. Originally the word was used to identify the eight days of celebration for the dedication of the church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. In the modern day it is used to describe an academic ceremony that occurs shorty before commencement. In the United States the ceremony is used by colleges to honor the graduates with awards and prizes, while in the United Kingdom it is used to present honorary degrees to alumni and other notable persons and is officially part of graduation.

Yep, it's going to be very long and very boring, and that's coming from experience. Unfortunately, there are only a hand full of ways to get around this prolonged ceremony: an outdoor graduation with rain, a lazy president, or a lazy commencement speaker. All three options are out of your control, unless you believe in the power of prayer I guess. Occasionally you will find an especially lazy institution who will "declare" everyone as graduated at once, if you work at one of these liberal colleges, consider yourself among the blessed.

College banners, flags or gonfalons: These banners are ceremoniously paraded in during the march, each representing a different college within the university. Gonfalons, or gonfalones in the original Italian, were borrowed from heraldry. Originally serving to identify knights clad in armor, these flags are now used as a way to better locate you within the masses of people dressed almost identically.

President's chain, collar or medal: It's not enough the president of a college or university receives special robes, they also get jewelry. This presidential bling serves as a means to identify the office in which the individual holds and the power inherent in that position.

Institution seal: The seal represents the institution itself. The motto, the values and the mission are usually summed up nicely in a circular design. The seal also provides a great photo op for the press and photo happy family members.

Academic mace: Remember that medieval weapon I talked about earlier? Well it's actually an academic mace, and no, it isn't used to make the freshmen stay in line. The mace is a symbol of the institution's power to confer degrees or certificates to candidates.

Institution songs: Each college or university has its own song, and it is usually played predominately during commencement by the band. However, some older institutions have "special" graduation melodies that they play during this occasion.

Diploma: Historically the diploma was presented to graduating students during the commencement ceremonies, however due to the large number of students graduating it is often presented well after, and usually not until your check gets cashed by the Bursar's Office.

Diploma Cover: Because the diploma is no longer officially given out during commencement the diploma cover has taken its place. The front of the cover is usually embossed with the institutions crest, logo, motto or a combination of the three.

Robes: Academic robes are split into three distinct categories best divided by their cost, or their degree level. Below you'll find a quick outline of the different types and styles. It's pretty easy to tell the three apart: a bachelor's robe will remind you of high school graduation, a master's robe has wings for storing "stuff" and a doctoral rob is pretty fancy with lots of velvet.

Hoods: Hoods can be worn by bachelors', masters' and doctoral students, and they really complete the whole wizard look. However, it's important to note that most institutions have done away with the tradition of awarding bachelor's hoods, reserving them for post bachelor degrees. When presented, hoods are usually conferred the day prior during a special graduation ceremony called "hooding" or in mass during commencement. Like tassels, hoods are also colored based upon the student's field of study. If a student has earned more than one hood, they may only use one, and it must be worn with the properly associated gown.

Headwear: The cap is an important aspect of the regalia, its guarantees that you will look as foolish as possible. There are roughly two types of hats worn by graduating students, the motarboard and the tam. Doctoral students may choose to utilize a four, six, or eight sided tam or a beefeater to lessen the burden of looking awkward in the motarboard. Regardless of hat choices, the ACE code strictly stats that the material color should match the gown, and as always, the cap's material should be black. Men and women are allowed to wear their hats indoors, save for one exception: men must remove their hat for the national anthem and any benediction given.

Tassels: Tassels come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. The important thing to remember is that undergraduate tassels will be colored based upon the field of study while a masters/doctoral tassel will be black. Some institutions will also connect a charm on the tassel to identify the institution or the graduating year.

Medals: Medals are received for scholarships, as awards, or for special accomplishments by students and faculty alike. Each institution will have its own set of awards as will organizations within the college. Medals have been given for everything including veteran status, graduation as a nontraditional student, and as honor society conferrals. Officially, medals may only be worn under the hood and only if its visible through an open gown. However, the institution president or other officials may wear medals openly as part of their office during the graduation ceremonies.

Stoles: Stoles come in a wide variety of forms and usually help to identify a student's association in various groups. Academic custom does not allow you to wear more than one at once, so pick your favorite or the one that goes better with your shoes. If you are even mildly involved on campus you will have the opportunity to acquire at least one, so don't sweat it. The ACE code doesn't officially allow the use of stoles; however some institutions have allowed their inclusion.

Cords: Like stoles, cords are pretty common place. They often represent affiliations or special academic honors. Depending on the organization/honor they come in single, double and triple strands and a wide variety of colors. Cords are usually handed out like bids at a keg party, just about anyone can get one if they stick around long enough. Unlike stoles or hoods, custom allows you to wear more than one at once. Aiguillettes are an uncommon type of cord worn around one shoulder usually my military graduates. The ACE code doesn't officially allow the use of cords in any form, however some institutions have allowed their inclusion.

Tassels: There is often the opportunity to replace the field of study's specific tassel on the cap. Some associations will provide you with specialty variations. It's up to you if you want to include them or just use them as a decoration on your review mirror. The ACE code doesn't officially allow the use of any tassel that is not the one prescribed for the student's field of study, however some institutions have allowed their inclusion.

College/class rings: The college/class ring has been getting less usage as of late due to the declining economy and the shear cost associated with having them made. In years past these items helped to personalize the academic regalia by allowing the student to display their affiliations, graduation year and pride for the institution itself.

Drink the beer: (+5 points/beer) Should be pretty self explanatory, but for those of you that aren't graduating with honors I'll make it easy...bring beer with you, then drink it. It's easier to sneak in a few drinks if you're wearing a master's robe; the wings are great for storing "stuff."

Who's the biggest nerd: (+1 point/tassel, +5 points/stole, +10 points for a medal) Graduation brings out the ego in everyone. The bookworms and Type A's take out all the stops and load their gowns with as much honorary crap as they can lift. For us less inclined, it's a perfect opportunity to make fun of them behind their overachieving ass.

Craziest motor board art: (No points, think of it as a cultural experience) It's a form of art, I guess, and it should be appreciated, I guess. Do you know how long it takes to cut out your sorority letters from felt? I'm sure it takes a while, and someone should appreciate all that hard work damn it!

Who's not wearing anything under their robe: (This game can be rewarding enough without points) Although, it can be very unrewarding if you aren't careful. Play cautiously.

Worst mispronounced name: (+1 point/gibberish, +2 points if they have to repeat it, +5 points if they have to ask how to pronounce it, instant win if they swear while trying to pronounce it) I really shouldn't have to go into too much detail, this will be the first time this person sees a lot of these names so it should come as no surprise that they're going to mess up some of the less common ones.

Who has an Italian family: (+1 point for an Italian last name, +2 points/"Woo" or "oh yeah" screamed from the crowd, +15 points if the student looks like a Jersey Shore cast member) It might be a little politically incorrect, but hell, you know it's true.

Make the hearing impaired signer laugh: (No points, just for fun) Learn a few signs before going to graduation, really awkward and highly inappropriate ones. Take for instance, "wow, awkward" or "your fly is open."