As an official function of the Institute, Institute Commencement ceremonies convey the scholarly tradition and formal tone befitting of an academic ceremony. This policy sets forth standards related to the academic regalia worn at Institute commencement ceremonies by students, as well as the process by which student organizations and Institute programs may seek approval to add adornment to the regalia to signify a student’s membership or association. Adornments include any addition to the issued traditional academic regalia and may include, but are not limited to: cords, stoles, torus, medallion, pins, and other decorations.
Traditional academic regalia will be worn by all graduating students and faculty in commencement ceremonies (as described in section 4). The Institute welcomes students, academic programs, and student organizations to express their identity and values through the addition of appropriate adornment to the standard Institute regalia. Any adornments added to the regalia should not obstruct the view of others at the ceremony or interfere with another’s participation in the ceremony.
Georgia Tech Student Organizations (as registered with the Division of Student Life) and other Institute-approved programs or organizations wishing to provide student members or participants with organization or program recognition regalia adornment to be worn at commencement must seek prior approval from the Office of the Provost through the Registrar. The cost of the adornments will be borne by the organization or student members. A list of all pre-approved regalia adornments including the requesting person or organization, description, and meaning of the adornment will be maintained by the Registrar’s Office.
Students not in compliance with the requirements of this policy may be asked to remove and/or conceal any unapproved regalia adornment.
This policy pertains to the regalia and adornments worn by students participating in any Institute undergraduate commencement, graduate commencement, or PhD hooding ceremonies.
Definitions:
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Academic Regalia – Doctoral Candidates |
Doctoral candidates traditionally wear customized gold regalia with full rounded sleeves, velvet facings on the front and velvet bars on the sleeves. Hoods are lined with Georgia Tech colors. Doctoral candidates also wear a six-pointed tam. |
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Academic Regalia – Master’s Candidates |
Master’s degree candidates traditionally wear the traditional black grown with full-length square sleeves with a crescent piece hanging from each sleeve. The gowns are adorned with the Georgia Tech seal. The master’s hoods are lined in white and gold and colors appropriate to their major. Caps are traditional mortar boards and tassels are white and gold. |
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Academic Regalia – Bachelor’s Candidates |
Bachelor’s degree candidates traditionally wear the traditional black gown but with no hood and no additional material at the bottom of the sleeves. Caps are traditional mortar boards and tassels are white and gold. |
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Regalia Adornments |
Any décor or embellishment added to the regalia which may include, but is not limited to cords, stoles, tassel décor, medallions, and patches. |
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Honor Cords |
A cord worn by undergraduate students who have earned the designation of academic honors as based on their GPA at the start of the graduating semester. Cords may not be used for any other designation unless by specific permission of the Office of the Provost through the Registrar. Exceptions may be granted for academic (GPA-based), distinguished national honor societies that may issue cords to their graduates. Recognizing the considerable effort of the students who earn honors, the color of the cord will signify the level of honors:
The determination of honors would be preliminary and based on the students' GPA at the start of the graduating semester. The distribution of cords will be managed by the Registrar’s Office. |
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Medallions or pins |
A piece of jewelry worn around the neck or pinned to the regalia signifying participation in a specific Institute recognized organization or program. |
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Stoles |
A long band of cloth, usually silk, worn around the neck signifying participation in a specific Institute recognized organization or program. |
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Tassel Décor or Torus |
Academic programs and departments may wish to signify participation in academic-based options with a torus – beads worn on the tassel of the mortar board. This would be determined by individual programs and departments and must be limited to academic options that are included on the students' transcripts or documented in some other consistent manner, such as co-op, threads, international plan, minors, or undergraduate research option. |
Student organizations or Institute-approved programs must submit stole designs for approval to the Registrar’s office. The following chart details the process:
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Requests for approval of Academic Regalia Adornments |
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Request Form |
A form to submit for approval will be available on the Registrar’s office web site. Forms submitted must include a photo of the stole. |
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Approval |
Any regalia adornment or exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Office of the Provost through the Registrar prior to display at commencement. A list of all approved regalia adornments will be kept by the Registrar’s office and posted on the Institute Commencement website. |
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Deadline |
All submissions for approval must be submitted to the Registrar’s office by the dates designated on the Registrar’s web site. |
- Office of the Provost – Oversee the implementation of this policy and approve any exceptions to the terms of the policy.
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Registrar – Manage the approval and registry of regalia adornments as well as the distribution of honor cords.
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Student Organizations, academic departments, and Institute approved programs – Seek approval and register any regalia adornments prior to commencement.