Academic Regalia

The History and Heritage of Academic Regalia

The tradition of wearing academic dress stretches back to the founding of the world's first universities. As noted in the American Council on Education's publication, American Universities and Colleges, the origins were practical: "Gowns may have been counted necessary for warmth in the unheated buildings frequented by medieval scholars. Hoods seem to have served to cover the tonsured head. . . ."

A Tale of Two Traditions

While European universities have maintained a wide diversity in their academic attire over the centuries, American universities took a different path. When the time came to adopt academic dress, they quickly established a standardized code of regulations. Today, this system is followed by nearly all institutions in the United States, making it easy to distinguish both the level of degree earned and the university that awarded it.

Decoding the Gown

The gown itself is the primary indicator of a scholar's degree level:

• Bachelor's Gown: Features pointed sleeves and is designed to be worn closed.
• Master's Gown: Recognizable by its long, oblong sleeves, which are often cut away at the front near the elbow. It can be worn open or closed.
• Doctor's Gown: The most elaborate, with full, bell-shaped sleeves and can also be worn open or closed.

The material of the gown also signifies the degree level. Bachelor's and master's gowns are typically made of cotton poplin or a similar material, while doctoral gowns are crafted from more luxurious rayon or silk ribbed fabric.

The Rutgers Gown: A Unique Tradition

At Rutgers University, there is a distinct gown for its highest leaders and doctoral graduates. Members of the Board of Governors and Board of Trustees, along with those who hold a Rutgers doctorate, wear a distinctive scarlet gown. It is adorned with black velvet front panels, framed by gold cord braid. Embroidered on the velvet at the neck are a crown and the year "1766," a proud emblem of the university's founding as one of the nine colonial colleges chartered under King George III of England.

The Language of the Hood

The academic hood is a rich tapestry of information, with its size, lining, and trim all carrying specific meanings.

• Size Matters: The length of the hood corresponds to the degree level.
  • Doctor's: 48 inches
  • Master's: 42 inches
  • Bachelor's: 36 inches
• Lining (Institution): The interior silk lining displays the official color or colors of the university that granted the degree. If an institution has multiple colors, they are often shown in a chevron pattern.
• Trim (Subject): The velvet edge, or binding, of the hood indicates the field of study. Here are some standard colors:
  • Maize: Agriculture
  • White: Arts and Letters
  • Orange: Engineering
  • Purple: Law
  • Lemon: Library Service
  • Green: Medicine
  • Light Blue: Education
  • Olive: Pharmacy
  • Blue: Philosophy
  • Gold: Science
  • Citron: Social Work

For all degrees, the traditional black mortarboard cap is worn.

Colors of the Colonial Colleges

The hood linings of the nine original colonial colleges are a direct link to America's academic history. Their distinctive color combinations are:

• Rutgers: Scarlet
• Harvard: Crimson
• William & Mary: Green, Gold, and Silver
• Yale: Blue
• Pennsylvania: Blue and Red
• Princeton: Orange and Black
• Columbia: Light Blue and White
• Brown: Brown
• Dartmouth: Green and White