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Dec. 6, 2014 draft policy released for stakeholder review by Provost
Policy title: Student Regalia
Policy summary: This policy establishes the academic costume regulations for candidates for
baccalaureate degrees, graduate certificates, and master’s degrees.
Effective date (proposed): January 1, 2015
Policy statement
1. All students participating in a Fort Lewis College commencement ceremony must
conform to the regalia requirements for their degree or certificate as set forth in this
policy. There will be no exceptions.
2. This policy adapts the American Council of Education’s Academic Costume Code to Fort
Lewis College’s:
A. Academic programs, which include baccalaureate degrees, post-baccalaureate
certificates, graduate certificates, and master’s degrees;
B. Mission to serve a diverse student population, demonstrated through an effort to
balance academic traditions with students’ cultural traditions and expressions;
C. Value of learning inside and outside of the classroom, demonstrated through
recognition of both academic achievement and student involvement in cocurricular activities.
D. Commitment to minimizing student fee expenses.
3. The baccalaureate costume will be as follows:
A. Students not receiving Latin honors will wear a:
i. Black gown:
a) Untrimmed
b) Straight cut sleeves
c) Zipped closed, except when a student is wearing traditional
cultural dress or a formal military uniform, in which case the gown
may be unzipped.
ii. Black four-point mortarboard, which may be embellished, so long as the
embellishment is appropriate for the occasion and adds no height to the
mortarboard.
iii. Royal blue and bright gold tassel with a graduation year medallion.
B. Students receiving Latin honors will wear a:
i. Gown as described in policy statement 3.A.i
ii. Mortarboard as described in policy statement 3.A.ii.
iii. Gold tassel with a graduation year medallion.
iv. Royal blue and bright gold ribbon with a gold medallion of the Fort Lewis
College seal.
C. Student marshals will wear the regalia as described in policy statement 3.B.i-iv
and a:
i. Royal blue and bright gold honor cord.
D. Students may be additionally recognized, without limit, by any Fort Lewis
College program approved by the Provost to issue regalia.
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i. All student regalia approved by the Provost for commencements prior to
and including Fall 2014 and requests for new student regalia to be issued
beginning with the Spring 2015 commencement ceremony must be
submitted to the Provost for approval by February 1, 2015.
a) Once approved, the person in charge of the program’s regalia may
issue the regalia without further notification of the Provost.
ii. Any new request or changes to approved student regalia must be
submitted for approval no later than October 1 for Fall commencement
ceremonies and February 1 for Spring commencement ceremonies.
iii. No student regalia will be approved that uses the combination of royal
blue and bright gold colors associated with institutional recognition of
marshals and those receiving Latin honors, with the exception of the John
F. Reed Honors Program.
iv. The Provost’s Office will maintain a registry of approved student regalia.
v. Descriptions and explanations of student regalia allowed under this policy
statement will be excluded from the commencement ceremony program
Spring 2015 forward.
E. A student may additionally wear one flower, candy, or money lei.
F. Row starters must wear the flower or ribbon corsage issued by the Registrar.
4. The post-baccalaureate certificate costume will be as follows:
A. All students will wear a:
i. Black gown:
a) Untrimmed
b) Straight cut sleeves
c) Zipped closed, except when the student is wearing traditional
cultural dress or a formal military uniform, in which case the gown
may be unzipped.
ii. Black four-point mortarboard, which may not be embellished.
iii. Black tassel.
B. Students will be awarded during the ceremony a satin sash embroidered with the
Fort Lewis College seal in the color assigned to the student’s discipline in the
American Council of Education’s Academic Costume Code.
C. No additional regalia is approved.
5. The master’s degree costume will be as follows:
A. All students will wear a:
i. Black gown:
a) Untrimmed
b) Long oblong sleeve, with the front part of the sleeve cut away in an
arc.
c) Zipped closed, except when the student is wearing traditional
cultural dress or a formal military uniform, in which case the gown
may be unzipped.
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ii. Black four-point mortarboard, which may not be embellished.
iii. Black tassel.
B. Students will be awarded during the ceremony a hood of royal blue and bright gold
trimmed with the color assigned to the student’s discipline in the American Council
of Education’s Academic Costume Code.
C. No additional regalia is approved.
Reason for policy
This policy adapts the Academic Costume Code to Fort Lewis College’s programs, mission,
values, and commitments.
Responsibilities
For following policy: All students participating in a commencement ceremony; all program
coordinators/directors/advisors/sponsors issuing student regalia under policy statement 3.D; the
commencement program editor
For enforcement of policy: Registrar.
For oversight of policy: Provost.
For maintaining registry of approved regalia: Provost’s Office
For notification of policy: Policy Librarian
Definitions
Student Regalia: Ceremonial clothing required for and adornments allowed for students
participating in a commencement ceremony. Clothing is defined as an academic gown, hat, and
and tassel. Adornments are defined as hoods, sashes, stoles, medallions, pins, and ribbons.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Students who do not conform to this policy will not be allowed to participate in a
commencement ceremony.
A program that does not follow this policy will be prohibited from issuing student regalia in
their programs for three years.
Cross-Referenced Policies
American Council of Education Academic Costume Code http://www.acenet.edu/newsroom/Pages/Academic-Costume-Code.aspx
Fort Lewis College Student Marshals Policy
Procedure to Submit Student Regalia for Provost Approval
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For Initial Approval
Submit to the Provost’s Office by February 1 (for Spring commencement) and October 1 (for
Fall commencement):
1. The name and contact information of the person submitting the application, the name of
the program, the role of the person in that program (e.g., Jane Smith,
smith_j@fortlewis.edu; Director, Program for Exemplary Performance).
2. A sample of the proposed regalia.
3. Vendor of the proposed regalia.
4. An explanation of the purpose of the recognition (e.g., To recognize graduates with
cumulative grade point averages of 3.00 or higher who have participated in the Program
for Exemplary Performance).
5. How the regalia will be issued (e.g., Each December and April at the end-of-semester
Program for Exemplary Performance banquet).
For Approval of a Change of Previously Approved Regalia
Follow procedure for Initial Approval, but additionally explain why a change of regalia is being
sought.
Response
The Provost will issue a written response to each application by the last working day in February
and the last working day in October. The Provost’s decision is final.
Authorization of Registrar
The Provost’s Office will inform the Registrar of all approved regalia prior to each
commencement ceremony.
Registry
The Provost’s Office will maintain a registry of approved regalia that may be reviewed by any
program coordinator/director/advisor/sponsor.