COMMENCEMENT REGALIA
The Symbols of Learning
Modern regalia evolved from the kinds of apparel worn by monks and students in the 11th and 12th centuries. Academic life as we know it today began in the Middle Ages – first in the church, then in the guilds. The teaching guild was the Master of Arts, and the Bachelor was the apprentice of the Master. Their dress was the outward sign of stature and responsibility. Academic regalia was thus a visible manifestation, in color, pattern, and design, that unified those of common discipline and like purpose. The three principle features of academic dress today are the hood, the cap, and the gown.
The Hood
The hoods are lined with the official colors of the institution conferring the degree. They are edged and bound with velvet of the color appropriate for the degree. At USF, the lining of the hood is green with a gold chevron (a V-shaped pattern), representing the university’s colors.
The Cap
The freed slave in ancient Rome won the privilege of wearing a cap, and so the academic cap is a sign of the freedom of scholarship and the responsibility and dignity with which scholarship endows the wearer. Old poetry records the cap of scholarship as a square symbolizing the book, although other authorities claim that it is a mortar board – the symbol of the masons, a privileged guild.
The Tassels
The color of the tassel on the caps (mortar board) denotes the discipline. The tassels on the caps worn by faculty may be black or a color indicating the degree. Those holding a doctoral degree may wear a gold tassel. It is traditional for degree candidates to wear their tassels on the right and for those holding degrees on the left. Graduates transfer their tassels to the left after conferring of the degrees by the President.
The Sash
The sash indicates membership in honor societies. Seals or emblems are located on each sash to display the honors society the student belongs to.
The Gown
The gown has become symbolic of the democracy of scholarship, for it completely covers any dress of rank or social standing. The sleeves of the gown indicate the level of the degree held by the wearer. A long pointed sleeve indicates the bachelor’s degree. The master’s gown has an oblong sleeve cut in an arc with a slit at either the upper arm or wrist. The doctor’s gown has bell shaped sleeves and may also have velvet facing and sleeve bars or chevrons. The trimming may be black or it may match the degree color on the gown edging.
The Academic Ceremonial Mace, which is closely related to the maces used by ecclesiastical and civil authorities, dates back to at least the 14th century, and is derived from the original battle mace that was designed to protect a king and was carried by the royal bodyguard. This symbolism of authority and power has been conveyed to the Academic Mace and signifies the authority of the Chief Executive Officer of the university.
The Medallion
The medallions worn by candidates for the bachelor’s degree identify those graduating with academic honors. The black hood of a bachelor’s candidate indicates a student who has completed graduation requirements for the USF Honors College.
The Colors
Arts and Letters/Humanities – White Nursing – Apricot
Business – Olive drab Philosophy – Dark blue
Criminology/Social Work/ Public Health – Salmon
Rehab Counseling – Citron School of Hotel/Restaurant Management - Pineapple
Education – Light blue Engineering – Orange
Science – Golden yellow Fine Arts – Brown
Library Science – Lemon yellow Undergraduate Studies – Gold