The “Why?” Behind Commencement Regalia
A sea of caps and gowns floods Pittsburgh every spring as graduating students collect their diplomas, but why is the occasion of commencement marked with such unusual clothing? It’s a history going back hundreds of years.
History
If the long robes, swinging tassels, and stoles seem a bit medieval, that’s because they are.
Modern academic dress has roots in the European universities of the Middle Ages, and it was adopted by the early colleges of colonial America. Early on, some of those universities required their students to always appear in their robes.
The clothes initially began as a way for scholars to stay warm in unheated rooms, and they were likely influenced by clothing worn by scholars in the Christian church. They eventually developed distinct colors and looks to denote where someone went to school, what they studied, and what level of degree they earned.
Diversity
Colors on graduation garb have significance too. At Chatham University, all the black robes sport the University’s seal, but some students may also be seen wearing lavender stoles, which are part of the Lavender Graduation at the SHINE Commencement Ceremony for students who are queer, trans, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or otherwise not straight.
“The reason the Lavender ceremony is called lavender and not purple or violet, it has a significance,” said Kayla Taylor, the Interim Director in Chatham’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
“The color was a symbol of queer resistance and empowerment, and it was turned into something positive and meaningful.”
The SHINE ceremony also includes a Multicultural Graduation segment for students of color and international students at Chatham. Each of those students wears a stole with a Kente pattern, which comes from the colorful Ghanaian textile used to commemorate special occasions.
“The Kente cloth that you often see at multicultural graduations is just another connection and another moment to touch base with your identity and who you are as a person of color, specifically as a Black person,” Kayla said.
These ceremonies show historically marginalized students that they are welcome on campus and that the University wants to celebrate their academic achievements, Kayla said.
“It’s not to create separations and divisions, it’s to recognize the folks who have maybe had to work a little harder,” she said.
Tassels and Hoods
Graduates may also have gold tassels on their black mortarboard hats to show that they obtained a doctorate, or they may wear gold cords to represent their participation in the Honors Program.
Those receiving a Bachelor’s degree will have a hood in Chatham purple, while students graduating from Doctor’s or Master’s programs will have hoods corresponding with their academic discipline. Those programs and colors are:
Arts, Letters, and Humanities — white
Athletic Training — sage
Business — olive drab
Communication — crimson
Counseling Psychology — gold
Education — light blue
Exercise Science — gold
Fine Arts — brown
Food Studies — gold
Healthcare Informatics — royal blue
Interior Architecture — brown
Nursing — apricot
Physical Therapy — teal
Physician Assistant Studies — gold
Professional Writing — white
Occupational Therapy — slate blue
Science — golden yellow
Social Science — citron
Sustainability — kelly green
Through its rich history and its ubiquity at graduation ceremonies, regalia has become one of the most iconic parts of any commencement. Chatham students can purchase their regalia at the University bookstore.
Mick Stinelli is a Writer and Digital Content Specialist at Chatham University. His writing has previously appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and 90.5 WESA, and he has a B.A. in Broadcast Production and Media Management from Point Park University. Mick, a native of western Pennsylvania, spends his free time watching movies and playing music.