Policy on Academic Regalia

Standard Academic Regalia

Standard academic attire, as described below, must be worn by all participants in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln commencement ceremonies. Candidates for degrees shall wear regalia appropriate to the degree being awarded. Beginning in 2019, the standard black regalia has been augmented as described here [see attached photos, below]:

PhD regalia shall consist of

• a traditional black PhD robe, with three red velvet horizontal stripes on each sleeve and a red Nebraska "N" on a black velvet vertical stripe down each side of the front
• a PhD hood of a shape and with the markings appropriate to the degree and field of study
• a traditional black mortarboard or a black tam, with tassel.

Master's regalia shall consist of:

• a traditional black master's robe with red stripes along the lower edge of the sleeves and a red Nebraska "N" on the lower front of the yoke, on either side of the zipper.
• a master's hood of a shape and with the markings appropriate to the degree and field of study
• a traditional black mortarboard with tassel

Undergraduate regalia shall consist of:

• a traditional black undergraduate robe with red cuffs
• a separable red "stole of gratitude" with a white Nebraska "N" on each end
• a traditional black mortarboard with tassel

Faculty shall wear the academic attire specified by the university from which they have received their final degree. ROTC personnel seated on the platform shall wear the formal uniform specified by their specific service. Marshals and Regents shall wear attire approved by the University Commencement and Recognition Committee (UCHC).

Recognition of Outstanding Academic Achievement

Outstanding academic achievement by persons being awarded degrees is appropriately recognized during commencement ceremonies by symbolic attire. There are three general categories of students who may wear symbolic attire during commencement:

1. Students who have achieved academic honors or distinction within UNL. By tradition, there are several ways in which UNL students can earn additional academic recognition at the college or university level, including the awarding of symbolic regalia. Included in this category are the students in the Honors Programs and Chancellor's Scholars. In addition, students graduating with "Distinction," "High Distinction," and "Highest Distinction" shall wear medallions. Members of Innocents Society may wear symbolic regalia.
2. Students who have been selected for national or international academic honorary societies. Consistent with UNL's goal of academic excellence, students should be recognized for their individual academic achievement. To that end, students who have been competitively selected for admission to nationally or internationally recognized academic honorary societies shall be permitted to wear regalia approved by the national honorary during commencement ceremonies. For purposes of this policy, national honorary societies shall be those societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.
   
   Any member of a national honorary society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies may wear an honor cord and/or tassel appropriate to that society. These cords and tassels do not need to be approved individually by the University Commencement and Recognition Committee (UCHC). In addition, members of Phi Beta Kappa, Golden Key, and Mortar Board have already been approved to wear special regalia.
3. Members of approved academic societies. Members of other national or international academic honorary societies, as approved individually by the UCHC, shall be allowed to wear their special regalia, ONLY as approved individually by the UCHC. Special regalia shall be approved for academic achievement only and shall be limited to cords, ribbons, or medallions, rather than sashes or stoles.

Note: Any member of a group that has had symbolic regalia approved by the UCHC before the approval of this policy may continue to wear that approved regalia.

Approval of further specific regalia

Because we recognize the importance of both saluting individual academic achievement and the communal nature of commencement, special regalia beyond what has been described above must be approved by the UCHC at least one semester prior to the commencement ceremony (see form below). To facilitate this process, the Secretary of the UCHC shall maintain a file of regalia previously approved by the committee for subsequent commencements.

Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs)

Members of any UNL Recognized Student Organization may decorate their "stole of gratitude" commemorating that membership(s) using embroidery or pins that feature the name or logo of the organization(s) only.

NOTE
University Marshals are authorized to remove from the ceremony at their discretion any candidate who is not wearing appropriate academic regalia, has augmented that regalia in a distracting or offensive manner, or whose behavior is deemed to be unbecoming to the dignity of the ceremony or dangerous to that student or to others.

From left to right: PhD gown; Master's gown, Undergraduate gown, Undergraduate stole of gratitude