A
ACADEMIC REGALIA
The wearing of academic costume is a tradition that has continued since the Middle Ages, when the first universities were founded. The regalia vary slightly from one university to another, and within a university, according to the status of the wearer. At the University of Guelph, the undergraduate and master’s gowns are black and doctoral gowns are blue. The bachelor’s hood is edged with the distinctive colour. The master’s hood is the same as the bachelor’s except that it features a double edge. The colours for the degrees are as follows: Bachelor of Applied Science – blue Bachelor of Arts – white Bachelor of Arts and Sciences – narrow white and gold Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management – red and gold Bachelor of Commerce – taupe Bachelor of Computing – dark blue Bachelor of Engineering – dark green Bachelor of Landscape Architecture – orange Bachelor of Science – gold Bachelor of Science in Agriculture – yellow Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences – purple Bachelor of Science in Technology – narrow blue and gold Doctor of Veterinary Medicine – brown Master of Applied Nutrition – pale gold/pale green Master of Applied Science –gold/green Master of Arts – white Master of Arts (Leadership) – white Master of Bioinformatics – gold/red Master of Biomedical Sciences - gold Master of Biotechnology - gold Master of Business Administration – grey/silver Master of Engineering – green Master of Environmental Sciences – purple Master of Fine Arts – red and white Master of Food, Agriculture and Resource Economics - gold Master of Landscape Architecture – orange Master of Planning – dark green Master of Public Health – blue Master of Science – gold Master of Science (Planning) – gold Doctor of Philosophy – gold with blue cord Doctor of Veterinary Science – gold with gold cord
6
CONFERRING THE DEGREE / GRANTING THE DIPLOMA
The dignified ceremonials used for conferring degrees have evolved from rituals used in the 12th and 13th century church. Early students were usually clerks in holy orders, monks or priests who wore a habit or cloak with a cowl or hood. Modern academic costume has its roots in the colourful robes introduced by Oxford and Cambridge 600 years ago. The convocation ceremony is also an ancient tradition. The ceremony begins with the arrival of the mace, symbol of the University of Guelph, and the chancellor, our senior executive officer. The chancellor confers the degree or grants the diploma while the beadle places the hood over the recipient’s shoulders. At the University of Guelph, the beadle – another link between the University and its clerical roots – is the secretary of Senate. The presentation of the parchment is the final act of the ceremony.
forever a gryphon
