Academic Attire
The degrees and regalia associated with the ceremonies began in the medieval universities of Europe, where gowns were everyday dress. They provided for their wearers, not only distinction, but also, quite probably, warmth during long hours of study in poorly heated buildings. Today, however, academic attire is seen only at formal affairs, such as commencements, dedications and inaugural ceremonies.
From medieval practice, academic dress has three items: a cap, gown and hood. Understanding of an academic costume code, drafted by an inter-collegiate commission in 1895, helps in identifying the degree the wearer holds, the university that awarded it and the course of study it represents.
Bachelor’s degree recipients wear a black gown with long pointed open sleeves. The master’s gown has a long closed sleeve hanging below the elbow. Three bars of velvet on a full sleeve distinguish the doctor’s gown.
The academic hood is the identifying symbol of the degree. The hoods can be distinguished by both length and color. The bachelor’s hood measures three feet, the master’s three and one-half and the doctor’s four. The color of the velvet edging, which is wider for degrees higher than the bachelor’s, indicates the field of study. The lining shows the official color or colors of the institution which awarded the degree. The hood is worn so that a large part of the lining is visible.
The most frequently seen colors are white for arts and letters, golden yellow for science, pink for music, dark blue for philosophy, purple for law, scarlet for divinity, green for medicine, light blue for education, sapphire blue for business, orange for engineering, brown for art and architecture, turquoise for continuing studies, gray for general studies, apricot for nursing, and blue-violet for architecture.
The black mortarboard cap with tassel is worn with every gown. Those holding the doctorate wear gold tassels, while holders of the bachelor’s and master’s degrees generally wear a black tassel.
Students in today’s exercises who are wearing gold tassels are graduating with honors. To receive such an honor, a student must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework in the graduation major at Northampton, and have a graduation grade point average of at least 3.50 or higher in any degree, certificate or specialized diploma. The graduation average includes grades in only the courses required for graduation in the specific program.
A pewter medallion, strung on an orange ribbon, is worn by students who have completed the Honors Program with a GPA of 3.5. The Honors Program can be completed within any major, and consists of 12 credits of honors designated course work.
Students wearing plain gold stoles are members of Phi Theta Kappa, a national honor society for community and junior college students. Students wearing the gold stoles with the Greek symbol ΛN (Lambda Nu) on the stole are graduating from either the Radiography or Diagnostic Medical Sonography Programs with at least a 3.5 grade point average in their professional courses and are members of the Pennsylvania Delta Chapter of Lambda Nu (affiliated with the national honor society of Lambda Nu for Radiologic and Imaging Sciences).
The multicolored Kente cloth stole is a symbolic expression of personal and community achievements in the African Diaspora community. Faculty and staff members of the Pan African Caucus also wear this as a significant gesture demonstrating support to the students. The maroon cord that each graduate is wearing represents the Radiologic and Imaging Sciences, and forest green is the color for the Health Professions. The Red-White-Blue cord is given to honor those who have served in the US Armed Forces, or are currently serving in National Guard or Reserves.
The Northampton Community College Mace
The mace is a traditional symbol of authority. Originally a war club, and then a symbol of both sovereign and ecclesiastic power, its academic origins can be traced to the early 17th century when it appeared at Oxford and Cambridge universities to symbolize academic freedom and educational superiority.
In medieval times, maces were often crowned with a spiked knob for striking an opponent. The royal coat of arms was usually stamped on the base of the shaft. As the mace evolved from a utilitarian to a symbolic role, the coat of arms, or identifying mark, replaced the lethal crown, leaving the base unadorned. In modern academic circles the mace represents a striving for academic excellence. It also serves as a symbol of institutional authority.
John Michael, professor emeritus of architectural technology, designed the College mace. Professor Michael’s philosophy in designing a mace for the College was to represent the structure and education of the community college, its influence in the development of the student and to do so in a form of the 20th century.
The shaft is divided into four sections to represent the four semesters required for an associate’s degree. Rods surrounding each section represent the courses or requirements of study. The core of the shaft represents structure and student. Springing from the surrounding sections of the shaft, three lower core members define three support bodies of the community college: the student, community and the Commonwealth. The remaining three higher core members define physical, emotional and intellectual parts of student development to prepare him or her for continued education or career positions. All six core members embracing the universe are represented by a sphere.
