ACADEMIC REGALIA The distinctive dress associated with academic precessions and convocations dates from the Middle Ages, when long- sleeved hooded gowns were necessary for warmth in the unheated stone colleges. Most of the scholars were clerics in holy orders, and they wore cloaks to which were attached hoods that could be pulled up to cover their tonsured heads. Over the centuries, much diversity occurred in academic costumes. To bring some order to this diversity, in 1894 in the United States, the Intercollegiate Commission met in New York and agreed on a code of academic degree that has become the standard for most colleges and universities. According to the academic degree code, both the styling and color of the regalia has significance. The design of the gown indicates the degree. The bachelor’s gown is simple, with a full sleeve. The master’s gown is much like the bachelor’s gown, except for the long sleeves, which hang loose. The doctor’s gown is fuller and more elaborate. It has velvet edging and three velvet stripes on the full sleeves. Usually, the color of the gown is black. Hoods, worn over the gowns, are similar for all degrees, although differing slightly in length. The candidates for the bachelor’s degree usually do not wear the hood. The hood has a velvet edging, which indicates the area of the degree, and the inside or lining of the hood is satin in the colors of the college or university granting the degree. A partial list of the degree colors to be found on the edge of the hood or the trimming on the doctor’s gown is below. The usual cap, proper for all degrees, is the black mortarboard, although some colleges use the beret. Tassels, usually black, are worn over the left front quarter of the cap for a degree holder and on the right for a candidate for a degree. Holders of the doctorate may wear tassels of gold thread. Holders may also wear tassels in the colors of the college or university granting the degree. ACADEMIC COLORS English universities of Oxford and Cambridge began the tradition of academic regalia during the 12th and 13th centuries. A commission of university officials adopted (1895) a universal code of design and color for academic wear. The academic regalia colors worn by faculty and others symbolize degree levels, academic departments, and identify colors of the wearer’s alma mater. The Bachelor’s hood has velvet trimming indicating the degree, as identified by the colors below, and maroon and gold linings representing the Huston-Tillotson University colors. The trimming of the doctor’s gown, hood edging, and cap tassel signify subject areas as follows:
Agriculture....................................................... Maize Arts, Letters and Humanities...........................White Commerce, Accountancy, Business..................Drab Dentistry............................................................Lilac Economics..................................................... Copper Education..................................................Light Blue Engineering. .................................................. Orange Fine Arts, including Architecture...................Brown Forestry........................................................... Russet Home Economics.........................................Maroon Journalism. .................................................. Crimson Law................................................................. Purple Library Science..............................................Lemon Medicine.......................................................... Green
Music................................................................ Pink Nursing........................................................ Apricot Speech...............................................Silver or Gray Pharmacy...........................................Olive or Gray Philosophy...............................................Dark Blue Physical Education............................Sage or Green Public Administration, including Foreign Service...........Peacock or Blue Public Health...................................Salmon or Pink Science.........................................Golden or Yellow Social Work...................................................Citron Sociology........................................................White Theology....................................................... Scarlet Veterinary Science...........................................Gray
GONFALONS The colorful banners on the stage are gonfalons. Gonfalons are used throughout higher education on special occasions like graduation. The colors of the College, maroon and gold, are joined together in a pattern common on all banners. The additional color that borders each banner represents the academic divisions here at Huston-Tillotson University.
21 | 2025 Commencement
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