|
For decades the color of the graduation gown was gray, until in 1959 when the American Council on Education made changes. In 1986, the committee changed the code to clarify the use of dark blue for a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). However, in the 1950's students began to wear gowns that were their school's colors. It is estimated that approximately one out of every ten (10%) students will graduate in a unique color.
Academic dress for graduations started in the 12th and 13th centuries when universities first began. Standard dress for both student and teacher was clerical garb. In 1321, the University of Coimbra declared that all Doctors, Bachelors and Licentiates must wear gowns. Excessive in apparel was forbidden later on in the 14th century in some colleges and to create uniformity suggested everyone wear a long gown.
Because America was founded by immigrants from England , they brought many of their customs with them. So the graduation cap and gown roots go back to England . Not until the late 1800s were colors assigned to signify certain areas of study, but they were only standardized in the United States . European institutions have always had diversity in their academic dress, but American institutions employ a definite system of dress thanks to Gardner Leonard. After designing gowns for his 1887 class at Williams College , he took an interest in the subject and published an article on academic dress in 1893. Soon after he was asked to work with an Intercollegiate Commission to form a system of academic apparel.
The system Leonard helped form was based on gown cut, style and fabric, as well as designated colors to represent fields of study. Here's the a brief overview of the system Leonard developed:
-
Green was the color of medieval herbs, and was assigned to medical studies
-
Caps should only be made of black cotton poplin, broadcloth, rayon, or silk, to match gown they are to be used with
-
Only students receiving a doctor's degree may wear velvet
-
The graduation cap should be worn horizontally with the point in the center
-
Tassels should be fastened to the middle of the cap's top and allowed to lie where it will
-
Tassels should be black, or the color of field of study, unless it is for a doctor's degree in which case is may be gold. Here is a listing of tassel colors:
-
-
Graduate School black
-
Agriculture maize
-
Consumer and Family Sciences maroon
-
Education light blue
-
Engineering (including Agricultural and Biological Engineering)
-
Forestry - orange
-
Health Sciences salmon pink
-
Liberal Arts (including Physical Education) white
-
Management peacock blue
-
Nursing apricot
-
Pharmacy olive green
-
Science golden yellow
-
Technology red
-
Veterinary Medicine gray
|