ACA DEMIC REGA LIA: What does it all mean?
The Cap While the appropriate cap for all degrees is the traditional mortar board with black tassel, those holding a doctorate degree, such as Dr. Kualapai, may wear a soft velvet cap and a tassel in whole or partly composed of gold thread.
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he ceremonial attire which faculty and graduates wear for commencement and other special occasions has its origins in medieval times, when most scholars belonged to religious orders. In addition to setting the wearers apart as learned men, the apparel had a practical purpose: staying warm in cold, damp quarters. In the 1300s, English universities began to distinguish levels of education by the color and style of robes and accessories. Based on these English customs, the American Academic Costume Code was established in 1895 by representatives from Ivy League and New York universities. There are three types of gowns—doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s—in the Code. We asked Dr. Lydia Kualapai, professor of English, to model her doctoral cap and gown and accompanying regalia so we could explain what it means.
www.schreiner.edu Fall 2015
The Gown For a doctoral degree, the gown is faced with a broad strip of velvet and has three horizontal velvet bars on each sleeve. Dr. Kaulapai’s gown has dark blue velvet stripes, traditional for doctorates of philosophy regardless of the field of specialization.
Honor Cords The cords’ colors represent the society bestowing the honor. Dr. Kualapai’s are red and black for Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society. She also wears a red scarf and medallion from Sigma Tau Delta.
The Hood The doctoral hood is four-feet-long and faced with a five-inch strip of velvet. The color of the velvet strip indicates either the major or the subject area incorporated in the title of the degree. Dr. Kualapai’s is white for arts, letters and humanities. The hood’s interior satin lining is the colors of the institution that granted her the degree, red and white for the University of Nebraska. 19