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Caps and Gowns

 

Academic attire is required for the ceremony.

Undergraduates may purchase their gowns at the University Book Store or the D-Shoppe at any time starting November 6, 2007. thru April 1, 2008 (purchase by 4/1/08 for proper sizing.) Each student will receive a tassel of appropriate color based upon their school or college.  Students with two degrees may purchase the extra tassel,  but only one may be worn at any one time. Cost for Cap, Gown & Tassel= $27.99 (includes tax).

Additional ornamentation: Honor medallions are worn only by those students graduating in the University Honors Program (medallions are provided at the ceremony.) Kente stoles are also approved. Any additional ornamentation must receive prior approval by the University Commencement Committee.

Graduate students must order caps and gowns between November 6 and January 7 and pick them up at the University Book Store anytime beginning Tuesday, May 13, through Saturday, May 17. Store hours that week are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Gowns may be ordered at the bookstore or at one of the special graduation events organized by the bookstore. 

Cost of rental for graduate students' caps and gowns is as follows:

     Master Degree (Rental) Cap, Gown, Hood & Tassel          $46.00

...Doctorate Degree (Rental) Tam. Gown, Hood & Tassel     $62.50

On Sunday, May 18, after 10:30, graduates attending the 2:00 ceremony are welcome to come into the Bell Center gym to pick up caps and gowns; however, please know that parking may be difficult during the morning ceremony.

Tables will be set up outside the Knapp Center for returns of all rental caps and gowns.  An alternate site for drop-off will be announced at the ceremony in case of rain. 

All graduates should wear gowns and hoods appropriate for their degree. A friend’s or relative’s gown will not work unless the attire meets the exact requirements for each degree.

From the Drake General Catalog:

Commencement

APPLICATION

The graduation application is required prior to degree completion. Students are required to file an application early in their final term. The form is used by college or school personnel for degree clearance, preparation of the annual Commencement program and diploma presentation, and it is the student’s first step toward participation in the annual Commencement ceremony.

HONORS AT GRADUATION

Graduating students who have attained academic excellence and high scholastic achievement on the basis of cumulative grade-point average for 60 or more undergraduate hours at Drake University are recognized in the Commencement program with the following honors:

Cum Laude — GPA 3.50-3.69

Magna Cum Laude — GPA 3.70-3.89

Summa Cum Laude — GPA 3.90-4.00

Students who do not qualify for the above honors but who have attained a 4.00 average in their last 30 credit hours or a 3.80 average or better in their last 60 hours at Drake are graduated Cum Laude. A transfer student who does not complete 60 hours at Drake is graduated Cum Laude if he or she has attained a 4.00 average in the last 30 hours or a 3.80 average or better in the last 45 to 59 hours.

Departmental honors are awarded to a Cum Laude (or higher) graduate who has 18 or more credit hours in his or her major department(s) with a minimum grade-point average of 3.80.

The appropriate overall honors designation is recorded on the transcript and diploma of an honors graduate. Departmental honors are recorded on the transcript.

ACADEMIC COSTUME

Principal features of academic dress are the gown, the cap and the hood. It became necessary for universities to set rules to preserve the dignity and meaning of academic dress. Since the 15th century, both Cambridge and Oxford have made academic dress a matter of university control, even to its minor details, and have repeatedly published revised regulations. American universities agreed on a standardized system in 1895. The current guidelines have been in place since 1960.

DRAKE ATTIRE

Whereas the Commencement ceremony is a formal affair, academic attire is required. For all Drake University degrees, the black gown is appropriate. The bachelor’s gown has pointed, open sleeves with a closed front and white detachable collars for women. The master’s gown has closed sleeves with an open or closed front and white detachable collars for women. The doctoral gown has full bell sleeves with wide cuffs. It should be faced down in front with black velvet and three bars of velvet across the upper sleeve.

The cap is a Cambridge-style cap (resembling a large beret) for all doctoral degrees and a square mortarboard (Oxford style) for all other degrees. The cap should be adorned only with a tassel of the discipline color. The gold metallic tassel is appropriate for all doctoral degrees. The hood is worn by candidates for master’s degrees and higher. The inside silk lining is the Drake blue with a single white chevron. The outside of the master’s or specialist hood is black with velvet trim of the discipline. The outside of the doctoral hood is a wide velvet band in the color of the discipline.

Honor medallions are worn by students graduating with college or university honors. Kente stoles also are approved ornamentation. Additional ornamentation must receive prior approval of the University Commencement Committee.

ELIGIBILITY FOR CEREMONY ATTENDANCE

Any student who has earned a degree and has not participated in a previous Drake Commencement ceremony for that degree is encouraged to participate.

Students who expect to complete degree requirements in either May or August are encouraged to participate in the ceremony in the year they finish their degrees.

Participation in the May ceremony can be granted on an individual basis to students finishing their degrees the following December. Students must submit a written request and obtain their dean’s permission no later than 30 days prior to the ceremony.

APPEAL

When a dean denies a December graduate’s petition to participate in the May ceremony before the degree is completed, the student may appeal the decision to the Office of the Provost. The appeal must be in writing with supporting documentation attached.

EXCEPTION CRITERIA

The following are the criteria for granting ceremony participation on the exception basis for students with a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 or higher.

A student must have completed the summer and fall registration process, and those courses must fulfill the full degree requirements. The student also must meet one of the following:

• The student will graduate with multiple degrees or majors, and requirements for one degree will be complete in May or August, OR

• The student has only the student teaching requirement remaining to be completed during the upcoming fall semester, OR

• The student can document a serious hardship associated with participation in the commencement ceremony on the day established.

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