Candidates should wear the academic cap and gown, and advanced-degree candidates the hood, appropriate to the degree to be conferred. Academic attire may be rented or purchased at the University Book Store, 711 State Street, (608) 257-3784. On-line ordering is also available. Orders for academic attire should be made as early as possible. Rental orders for 2008 Winter Commencement will be taken from October 1, 2008 through November 14, 2008. Order dates for 2009 Spring Commencement will be posted next spring. Rental orders may also be placed at Countdown to Commencement.

Commencement academic attire should be picked up at the University Book Store on Friday, December 19 between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. or on Saturday, December 20 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Eligible undergraduate degree candidates will also pick up an honors stole, for which a refundable deposit is required. Honors candidates do not need to order stoles; the University Book Store will receive a list of honors candidates in advance of attire distribution. Attire should be returned to University Book Store personnel in the Kohl Center immediately following your ceremony or to the University Book Store, 711 State Street, on the Monday following your ceremony.

 

ABOUT THE ATTIRE

Caps and Tassels
Candidates for the bachelor's degree wear black mortarboard caps with tassels of their course color (see Academic Colors below). All candidates for first degrees wear the tassel on the right side of the cap until the degree has been conferred.

Candidates for all higher degrees wear black mortarboard caps with black tassels on the left side.

Gowns
The bachelor's gown has a closed front and long, pointed, open sleeves. The master's gown has a closed front with long, closed sleeves. The doctor's gown has an open front and large bell-shaped sleeves with three velvet bars (black, but sometimes in course colors). Marshals wear cardinal gowns with white bars.

Honors
Law School candidates who have been awarded the Dean's Academic Achievement Award are distinguished by cardinal stoles, which consist of panels draped over the shoulders. Bachelor's candidates graduating with honors or with distinctive scholastic achievement wear cardinal stoles. Bachelor's candidates from an honors program wear white stoles with cardinal bars. The honors stole is worn only with the cap and gown. Deans' offices will notify students who are selected for honors. Stoles may be obtained at the University Book Store. A deposit is required for use of the stoles; the deposit will be refunded when the stole is returned after commencement.

Hoods
The bachelor's hood is rather short, with a narrow velvet edging of the appropriate color (see Academic Colors below) and a lining in the color or colors of the institution-cardinal at Wisconsin. The bachelor's hood is worn only by those who previously received the baccalaureate degree.

The master's hood is considerably longer, has a wider velvet edging, and exposes more of the lining. Candidates for higher degrees wear the hood throughout the commencement ceremony. The edging is yellow for science, white for arts and brown for fine arts.

The doctor's hood has a wider velvet edging, wide panels at either side, greater length, and a fully exposed lining. The colors of edging are blue for philosophy, green for medicine, pink for musical arts, purple for law and juridical science, gray for veterinary medicine, olive for pharmacy, and spruce green for audiology.

The hood hangs to the back from the neck. A cord on the hood is then fastened to a button on the front of the candidate's clothing. To avoid wearing the hood inside out, make sure that the velvet facing of the hood is visible under the chin and lies flat over the shoulders. The lining of the hood is cardinal.

 

ACADEMIC COLORS

Undergraduate Degree Tassels

College of Letters and Science

• Applied Mathematics, Engineering and Physics: Yellow
• Arts (including Humanities, Letters): White
• Chemistry: Golden Yellow
• Journalism: Crimson
• Music: Pink
• Science: Golden Yellow
• Social Work: Citron

College of Engineering

• Orange

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

• Maize

School of Education

• Art: Brown
• Art Education: Brown
• Dance: Sage Green
• Education: Light Blue
• Fine Arts: Brown
• Kinesiology: Sage Green
• Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education: Light Blue

School of Business

• Sapphire

School of Pharmacy

• Olive

School of Nursing

• Apricot

School of Human Ecology

• Maroon

School of Medicine and Public Health

• Green

Graduate and Professional Hoods

Doctor of Philosophy: Blue
Doctor of Medicine: Green
Doctor of Musical Arts: Pink
Juris Doctor: Purple
Doctor of Juridical Science: Purple
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine: Gray
Doctor of Pharmacy: Olive
Doctor of Audiology: Spruce Green
Master of Fine Arts: Brown
Master of Arts: White
Master of Science*: Yellow
Master of Music: Pink
Master of Business Administration: Sapphire
Master of Accountancy: Sapphire
Master of Science-Business: Sapphire
Master of Laws: Purple
Master of Legal Institutions: Purple
Master of Physical Therapy: Green
Master of Engineering: Orange
Master of Science-all Engineering majors: Orange
Master of Professional French Studies: White
Master of International Public Affairs: Teal
Master of Public Affairs: Teal
Master of Public Health: Salmon Pink
Master of Social Work: Citron
*except Engineering majors

 

OTHER COMMENCEMENT-RELATED LINKS
Commencement ceremony general information
Schedule for spring commencement
Schedule for winter commencement
Instructions to candidates who intend to participate in spring commencement
Instructions to candidates who intend to participate in winter commencement