{"id":3406,"date":"2026-10-02T08:23:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T08:23:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.capandgownoutlet.com\/resources\/?p=3406"},"modified":"2026-10-07T11:19:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T11:19:51","slug":"faculty-academic-regalia-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.capandgownoutlet.com\/resources\/faculty-academic-regalia-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Faculty Academic Regalia Guide: What Professors Should Wear at Commencement"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3406\" class=\"elementor elementor-3406\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81fb60e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"81fb60e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76c101e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"76c101e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"main-blog\"><p>Commencement is not only a major event for graduating students. Faculty members often play an important ceremonial role as professors, advisors, marshals, administrators, hooding faculty and representatives of the academic community.<br \/><br \/>For professors participating in commencement, one practical question frequently comes up: <strong>What academic regalia should faculty wear?<\/strong><\/p><p>The answer usually begins with the academic degree the faculty member has earned, but institutional traditions and ceremony-specific requirements also matter.<\/p><p>A professor with a doctoral degree may wear doctoral-level academic dress. A faculty member whose highest earned degree is a master&#8217;s degree may wear master&#8217;s regalia. The academic hood can provide additional information associated with the degree and degree-granting institution.<\/p><p>This <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.capandgownoutlet.com\/university-college\/faculty-regalia.html\">faculty academic regalia<\/a> guide<\/strong> explains the major pieces professors may encounter, how faculty regalia differs by degree level, what to know about gowns, hoods, tams and mortarboards, and what to verify before participating in commencement.<\/p><h2>Do Professors Wear Academic Regalia at Commencement?<\/h2><p>Faculty members commonly wear academic dress when participating in formal commencement and other academic ceremonies, but requirements vary by institution and event.<\/p><p>Faculty may participate as:<\/p><ul><li>Members of the academic procession<\/li><li>Faculty marshals<\/li><li>Department representatives<\/li><li>Doctoral hooding faculty<\/li><li>Platform-party participants<\/li><li>Academic administrators<\/li><li>Faculty award recipients<\/li><\/ul><p>Some institutions require participating faculty to wear academic regalia, while others provide event-specific guidance.<\/p><p>Always review the instructions issued for your particular ceremony.<\/p><h2>The First Rule: Dress for Your Earned Degree<\/h2><p>A useful starting point for faculty academic dress is the highest degree the professor has actually earned.<\/p><p>For example, a faculty member whose highest earned degree is a master&#8217;s degree would generally look to master&#8217;s-level academic dress rather than wearing doctoral regalia simply because the person holds the title of professor.<\/p><p>Likewise, faculty rank does not automatically determine academic-dress level.<\/p><h2>Professor Is a Job Title, Not a Regalia Level<\/h2><p>Being an assistant professor, associate professor, professor, department chair or academic administrator does not by itself determine whether someone should wear a bachelor&#8217;s, master&#8217;s or doctoral gown.<\/p><p>The relevant academic degree and institutional requirements are more important.<\/p><h2>Faculty Regalia by Degree Level<\/h2><p>Academic gowns can differ according to degree level.<\/p><h3>Bachelor&#8217;s-Level Regalia<\/h3><p>Bachelor&#8217;s academic dress typically uses a relatively simple gown with traditional bachelor-style sleeves.<\/p><h3>Master&#8217;s-Level Regalia<\/h3><p>Master&#8217;s gowns generally have distinctive sleeve construction that separates them visually from bachelor&#8217;s gowns.<\/p><h3>Doctoral-Level Regalia<\/h3><p>Doctoral gowns are often the most elaborate of the three major degree levels.<\/p><p>Many doctoral gowns feature:<\/p><ul><li>Distinctive doctoral sleeves<\/li><li>Velvet or velvet-like front facings<\/li><li>Three velvet or velvet-like bars on each sleeve<\/li><li>Additional institution-specific detailing in some designs<\/li><\/ul><p>Exact designs can vary.<\/p><h2>What Should a Professor With a PhD Wear?<\/h2><p>A professor who has earned a PhD may wear doctoral-level academic regalia when appropriate for the institution and ceremony.<\/p><p>A typical doctoral ensemble may include:<\/p><ul><li>Doctoral gown<\/li><li>Doctoral academic hood<\/li><li>Doctoral tam or other approved academic headwear<\/li><li>Tassel<\/li><\/ul><p>However, the exact gown, hood and headwear can depend on institutional practice.<\/p><h2>What Should a Professor With a Master&#8217;s Degree Wear?<\/h2><p>A faculty member whose highest earned degree is a master&#8217;s degree would generally look to master&#8217;s-level academic regalia, subject to the institution&#8217;s commencement rules.<\/p><p>A master&#8217;s ensemble can include:<\/p><ul><li>Master&#8217;s gown<\/li><li>Master&#8217;s academic hood<\/li><li>Mortarboard or other approved academic headwear<\/li><li>Tassel<\/li><\/ul><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.capandgownoutlet.com\/university-college\/masters-cap-and-gown\/gown-only.html\"><strong>The master&#8217;s gown<\/strong><\/a> should not automatically be replaced with a doctoral gown simply because the wearer is now a professor.<\/p><h2>What If a Professor Has Multiple Graduate Degrees?<\/h2><p>Faculty members sometimes hold several graduate degrees from different institutions.<\/p><p>For commencement, professors commonly focus on academic dress associated with an earned degree appropriate to the ceremony, often their highest earned degree, while following the host institution&#8217;s rules.<\/p><p>If there is uncertainty, the faculty affairs, commencement or academic affairs office can clarify the expected practice.<\/p><h2>Should Faculty Wear Regalia From the University Where They Teach?<\/h2><p>Not necessarily.<\/p><p>Academic regalia can reflect the degree a professor earned rather than simply the institution where the professor currently works.<\/p><p>This distinction is particularly important with academic hoods.<\/p><h2>The Academic Hood Can Represent the Degree-Granting Institution<\/h2><p>Under traditional U.S. academic-dress conventions, elements of the hood lining can be associated with the institution that awarded the degree.<\/p><p>Therefore, a professor teaching at University A after earning a doctorate from University B may wear an academic hood associated with University B, subject to the applicable academic-dress practices.<\/p><h2>Faculty Doctoral Gown: What to Look For<\/h2><p>Faculty members purchasing doctoral regalia for repeated commencement use should consider more than appearance.<\/p><p>Evaluate:<\/p><ul><li>Institutional requirements<\/li><li>Degree level<\/li><li>Gown construction<\/li><li>Fabric<\/li><li>Velvet or velvet-like facings<\/li><li>Sleeve bars<\/li><li>Color<\/li><li>Sizing<\/li><li>Comfort<\/li><li>Expected frequency of use<\/li><\/ul><h2>Black Doctoral Gown vs. Institution-Specific Gown<\/h2><p>Black doctoral gowns are widely associated with academic dress, but they are not universal.<\/p><p>Some universities have distinctive doctoral gowns incorporating institution-specific colors or design elements.<\/p><p>Faculty should determine whether the ceremony permits standard doctoral academic dress or expects a particular institutional design.<\/p><h2>Does a Faculty Doctoral Gown Need Three Sleeve Bars?<\/h2><p>Three velvet or velvet-like sleeve bars are a familiar feature of many doctoral gowns.<\/p><p>However, custom university designs can differ.<\/p><p>The institution&#8217;s requirements and the design associated with the academic dress being worn should guide the choice.<\/p><h2>What Color Should the Velvet Be?<\/h2><p>Doctoral gowns may use black velvet or other colors depending on the design and academic-dress tradition being followed.<\/p><p>Do not choose the gown&#8217;s velvet color simply by trying to match the academic hood.<\/p><p>The gown and hood should each be selected according to their proper specifications.<\/p><h2>Faculty Academic Hoods Explained<\/h2><p>The academic hood is one of the most information-rich pieces of faculty regalia.<\/p><p>Depending on the academic-dress system, it can communicate information through:<\/p><ul><li>Degree-level construction<\/li><li>Institutional lining<\/li><li>Lining arrangement<\/li><li>Velvet or similar edging<\/li><\/ul><h2>The Hood Should Match the Earned Degree<\/h2><p>A faculty member should not select an academic hood merely because its colors match the university where the professor currently teaches.<\/p><p>Instead, determine the appropriate hood for the degree being represented.<\/p><h2>Understanding Hood Lining<\/h2><p>In traditional U.S. academic dress, the hood lining can be associated with the institution that conferred the degree.<\/p><p>The lining may use:<\/p><ul><li>A single color<\/li><li>Multiple colors<\/li><li>One or more chevrons<\/li><li>Another specified arrangement<\/li><\/ul><p>The arrangement can matter in addition to the colors themselves.<\/p><h2>Understanding the Hood Edging<\/h2><p>Traditional academic-dress conventions associate various colors with academic disciplines.<\/p><p>Commonly referenced associations include:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Arts, Letters and Humanities:<\/strong> White<\/li><li><strong>Business, Commerce and Accountancy:<\/strong> Drab<\/li><li><strong>Education:<\/strong> Light Blue<\/li><li><strong>Engineering:<\/strong> Orange<\/li><li><strong>Fine Arts:<\/strong> Brown<\/li><li><strong>Law:<\/strong> Purple<\/li><li><strong>Library Science:<\/strong> Lemon<\/li><li><strong>Medicine:<\/strong> Green<\/li><li><strong>Music:<\/strong> Pink<\/li><li><strong>Nursing:<\/strong> Apricot<\/li><li><strong>Philosophy:<\/strong> Dark Blue<\/li><li><strong>Physical Education:<\/strong> Sage Green<\/li><li><strong>Public Administration:<\/strong> Peacock Blue<\/li><li><strong>Public Health:<\/strong> Salmon Pink<\/li><li><strong>Science:<\/strong> Golden Yellow<\/li><li><strong>Social Science:<\/strong> Citron<\/li><li><strong>Theology and Divinity:<\/strong> Scarlet<\/li><\/ul><p><strong>These traditional associations are provided as a general educational reference and should not be treated as a universal faculty-regalia ordering chart.<\/strong><\/p><p>Academic-dress practices can vary, so faculty should verify the correct specification for their degree and institution.<\/p><h2>Does Every Professor With a PhD Wear Dark Blue?<\/h2><p>Do not assume that the letters PhD alone provide every detail needed to order faculty regalia.<\/p><p>Dark blue has a traditional association with philosophy, but universities may implement academic-dress conventions differently.<\/p><p>Verify the actual hood specification associated with the degree being represented.<\/p><h2>What About Interdisciplinary Doctorates?<\/h2><p>Interdisciplinary degrees can make hood selection more complicated.<\/p><p>A degree may combine areas such as:<\/p><ul><li>Business and technology<\/li><li>Education and leadership<\/li><li>Health and administration<\/li><li>Engineering and management<\/li><li>Data science and social science<\/li><\/ul><p>Faculty should not choose a hood edging color based solely on the department name or the subject they currently teach.<\/p><p>Verify how the degree is formally represented for academic-dress purposes.<\/p><h2>Doctoral Tam or Mortarboard for Faculty?<\/h2><p>Doctoral faculty are frequently seen wearing soft academic tams, but a tam should not be treated as universally mandatory.<\/p><p>Depending on institutional practice, faculty academic headwear may include:<\/p><ul><li>Four-sided doctoral tam<\/li><li>Six-sided doctoral tam<\/li><li>Eight-sided doctoral tam<\/li><li>Mortarboard<\/li><li>Other institution-specific academic headwear<\/li><\/ul><h2>Do More Sides Mean Higher Faculty Rank?<\/h2><p>No automatic connection should be made between the number of tam sides and academic rank.<\/p><p>A professor wearing an eight-sided tam should not be assumed to outrank a professor wearing a six-sided tam.<\/p><p>The number of sides primarily describes the tam&#8217;s construction and appearance.<\/p><h2>Does a Full Professor Wear Different Regalia From an Assistant Professor?<\/h2><p>Faculty rank itself does not normally create a separate degree level of academic dress.<\/p><p>An assistant professor and a full professor who are representing comparable earned doctoral degrees may both wear doctoral-level regalia, subject to institutional practices.<\/p><p>Academic rank and academic degree are separate concepts.<\/p><h2>Faculty Tassels<\/h2><p>A tassel is typically attached to academic headwear.<\/p><p>Gold-colored tassels are commonly seen with doctoral academic dress, but they are not a universal requirement.<\/p><p>Faculty should verify:<\/p><ul><li>Required or customary tassel color<\/li><li>Material<\/li><li>Headwear compatibility<\/li><li>Institutional expectations<\/li><\/ul><h2>Which Side Should a Faculty Tassel Be On?<\/h2><p>Faculty members should follow the host institution&#8217;s instructions or established ceremony practice.<\/p><p>Do not automatically apply undergraduate tassel-moving traditions to participating faculty.<\/p><h2>Do Professors Move Their Tassels During Commencement?<\/h2><p>Generally, faculty should follow ceremony instructions rather than participating automatically in a tassel movement intended for graduating students.<\/p><p>If the ceremony has a particular protocol for faculty, the commencement organizers should provide it.<\/p><h2>Can Professors Wear Stoles and Honor Cords?<\/h2><p>Faculty should not assume that student recognition accessories automatically transfer to faculty academic dress.<\/p><p>Some institutions may permit particular faculty distinctions, ceremonial items or organizational regalia, while others may prefer traditional academic dress without additional accessories.<\/p><p>Check institutional guidance before adding:<\/p><ul><li>Honor cords<\/li><li>Organization stoles<\/li><li>Decorative sashes<\/li><li>Medallions<\/li><li>Other ceremonial accessories<\/li><\/ul><h2>What Should Professors Wear Under Academic Regalia?<\/h2><p>Academic gowns are worn over regular clothing.<\/p><p>Faculty should follow any institutional dress expectations while considering:<\/p><ul><li>Formality of the ceremony<\/li><li>Indoor or outdoor venue<\/li><li>Temperature<\/li><li>Length of the ceremony<\/li><li>Walking requirements<\/li><li>Stage access<\/li><\/ul><h2>Choose Comfortable Shoes<\/h2><p>Faculty members can spend considerable time standing and walking during commencement.<\/p><p>Depending on the role, a professor may:<\/p><ul><li>Join a long procession<\/li><li>Stand during student entry<\/li><li>Walk across campus<\/li><li>Use stage stairs<\/li><li>Participate in hooding<\/li><li>Remain standing during portions of the ceremony<\/li><\/ul><p>Choose footwear appropriate for the event and safe for walking with a long academic gown.<\/p><h2>Faculty Marshals May Need Extra Mobility<\/h2><p>Professors serving as marshals may walk more than faculty seated throughout the ceremony.<\/p><p>Before commencement, test:<\/p><ul><li>Gown length<\/li><li>Sleeve movement<\/li><li>Footwear<\/li><li>Tam security<\/li><li>Hood stability<\/li><\/ul><h2>Faculty Participating in Doctoral Hooding<\/h2><p>Professors participating in doctoral hooding ceremonies may need to perform precise movements while wearing their own academic regalia.<\/p><p>Follow the ceremony rehearsal and institutional instructions carefully.<\/p><p>You may need to:<\/p><ul><li>Receive the graduate&#8217;s hood<\/li><li>Position yourself behind or beside the graduate<\/li><li>Place the hood over the graduate&#8217;s head<\/li><li>Arrange the hood<\/li><li>Move efficiently to the next graduate<\/li><\/ul><h2>Make Sure Your Own Regalia Does Not Interfere With Hooding<\/h2><p>Before the ceremony, practice extending your arms while wearing the gown.<\/p><p>Check that:<\/p><ul><li>Your sleeves allow comfortable movement<\/li><li>Your own hood remains secure<\/li><li>Your tam remains in place<\/li><li>Your tassel does not obstruct your view<\/li><\/ul><h2>Faculty Regalia for Outdoor Commencement<\/h2><p>Outdoor ceremonies create additional considerations.<\/p><h3>Warm Weather<\/h3><p>Doctoral gowns can contain substantial fabric and may include velvet or velvet-like components.<\/p><p>Choose appropriate clothing underneath and follow institutional safety guidance for weather conditions.<\/p><h3>Wind<\/h3><p>Make sure academic headwear fits securely.<\/p><p>Wind can also affect hoods, tassels and other loose academic-dress components.<\/p><h3>Rain<\/h3><p>Follow the institution&#8217;s weather plan and product care instructions. Do not assume every gown, velvet component, hood or tam can be exposed to significant moisture without affecting the material.<\/p><h2>Should Faculty Buy or Rent Academic Regalia?<\/h2><p>This is largely a question of expected use, available options and institutional requirements.<\/p><h3>Renting May Make Sense When:<\/h3><ul><li>You participate infrequently<\/li><li>The institution coordinates a convenient rental<\/li><li>A highly specific custom design is expected<\/li><li>You do not want to store academic regalia<\/li><\/ul><h3>Buying May Make Sense When:<\/h3><ul><li>You participate in commencement every year<\/li><li>You attend multiple academic ceremonies<\/li><li>You want your own properly fitted ensemble<\/li><li>You prefer to keep regalia available throughout your academic career<\/li><\/ul><h2>Think in Terms of Cost Per Wear<\/h2><p>Faculty members who expect years of commencement participation can consider approximate cost per wear.<\/p><p>The basic calculation is:<\/p><p><strong>Total purchase cost \u00f7 expected number of uses = approximate cost per wear.<\/strong><\/p><p>This is only one factor, but it can help compare ownership with repeated rentals.<\/p><h2>Standard Faculty Regalia vs. Custom University Regalia<\/h2><p>Some professors wear standard academic dress appropriate to their degrees.<\/p><p>Others wear custom regalia associated with the institution that awarded their degree.<\/p><p>Custom regalia may include:<\/p><ul><li>Distinctive gown colors<\/li><li>Institution-specific panels<\/li><li>Special velvet<\/li><li>Piping<\/li><li>Embroidery<\/li><li>Custom academic hoods<\/li><li>Distinctive tams<\/li><\/ul><p>Custom regalia can provide a highly recognizable academic appearance, but it may also involve additional cost and production time.<\/p><h2>Do Faculty Need Custom Regalia?<\/h2><p>Not automatically.<\/p><p>Determine what the institution hosting the ceremony expects and what is appropriate for the degree being represented.<\/p><p>If standard academic dress is acceptable, custom features may be optional rather than mandatory.<\/p><h2>Faculty Regalia for Multiple Universities<\/h2><p>Professors sometimes teach, lecture or participate in ceremonies at more than one institution.<\/p><p>Owning a degree-appropriate academic ensemble can be practical because the regalia can represent the faculty member&#8217;s earned academic credentials rather than the institution currently hosting the event, subject to each host&#8217;s requirements.<\/p><h2>Visiting Faculty and Guest Professors<\/h2><p>If you are participating in commencement at an institution other than your employer, ask the host institution whether it has specific academic-dress expectations for visiting faculty.<\/p><p>Do not assume the rules are identical to those at your home institution.<\/p><h2>Faculty Regalia for Administrators<\/h2><p>Academic administrators may participate in commencement as members of the platform party or procession.<\/p><p>Depending on the institution and role, administrators who hold academic degrees may wear degree-appropriate academic dress.<\/p><p>Special institutional regalia may also exist for certain ceremonial offices.<\/p><p>Follow institutional protocol rather than assuming an administrative title changes the academic degree represented by the gown.<\/p><h2>Special Ceremonial Regalia<\/h2><p>Some academic officers may have special ceremonial garments associated with an office rather than simply their earned degree.<\/p><p>Examples can vary significantly by institution.<\/p><p>When such official regalia exists, institutional protocol should determine what is worn.<\/p><h2>How Should Faculty Academic Regalia Fit?<\/h2><p>A professor may wear the same academic gown repeatedly for years, making fit particularly important.<\/p><p>Check:<\/p><ul><li>Shoulder comfort<\/li><li>Gown length<\/li><li>Sleeve mobility<\/li><li>Closure<\/li><li>Room for clothing underneath<\/li><li>Ability to walk safely<\/li><li>Ability to sit comfortably<\/li><\/ul><h2>Measure Before Buying Faculty Regalia<\/h2><p>Do not rely on an old graduation gown size or everyday clothing size.<\/p><p>Follow the manufacturer&#8217;s sizing instructions, which may consider:<\/p><ul><li>Height<\/li><li>Chest<\/li><li>Weight range<\/li><li>Other body measurements<\/li><\/ul><h2>Faculty Regalia Should Be Tested While Sitting<\/h2><p>Professors may remain seated for much of commencement.<\/p><p>During a fitting, wear the complete ensemble and sit in a chair.<\/p><p>Make sure:<\/p><ul><li>The gown remains comfortable<\/li><li>The hood does not pull excessively<\/li><li>The tam remains secure<\/li><li>The gown is easy to stand in afterward<\/li><\/ul><h2>The Faculty Commencement Regalia Check<\/h2><h3>Gown<\/h3><ul><li>Correct degree level?<\/li><li>Appropriate design?<\/li><li>Correct size?<\/li><li>Comfortable for extended wear?<\/li><li>Sleeves untwisted?<\/li><li>Front facings straight?<\/li><\/ul><h3>Hood<\/h3><ul><li>Correct degree level?<\/li><li>Correct institution?<\/li><li>Correct lining?<\/li><li>Correct edging?<\/li><li>Centered and untwisted?<\/li><\/ul><h3>Headwear<\/h3><ul><li>Correct style?<\/li><li>Comfortable fit?<\/li><li>Secure during walking?<\/li><li>Tassel attached?<\/li><\/ul><h2>Common Faculty Regalia Mistakes<\/h2><h3>Mistake 1: Wearing Doctoral Regalia Because You Are a Professor<\/h3><p>Faculty title alone does not establish doctoral degree status.<\/p><h3>Mistake 2: Wearing the Colors of the University Where You Teach Without Checking the Degree Regalia<\/h3><p>Academic hood details may relate to the institution that granted the represented degree.<\/p><h3>Mistake 3: Choosing a Hood Based Only on Your Current Department<\/h3><p>Your current teaching department does not necessarily determine the academic hood specification.<\/p><h3>Mistake 4: Assuming All PhD Hoods Are Identical<\/h3><p>Institutional lining and other specifications can differ.<\/p><h3>Mistake 5: Treating Tam Sides as Faculty Rank<\/h3><p>Four-, six- and eight-sided constructions should not automatically be interpreted as academic hierarchy.<\/p><h3>Mistake 6: Automatically Moving the Tassel With Students<\/h3><p>Follow ceremony-specific faculty instructions.<\/p><h3>Mistake 7: Wearing Unapproved Accessories<\/h3><p>Check the host institution&#8217;s protocol before adding cords, stoles, medallions or other items.<\/p><h3>Mistake 8: Buying Regalia the Week of Commencement<\/h3><p>Late purchasing can limit sizing and customization options and leave little time to address errors.<\/p><h2>Faculty Academic Regalia Buying Checklist<\/h2><p>Before purchasing, confirm:<\/p><ul><li>Highest earned degree being represented<\/li><li>Degree-granting institution<\/li><li>Host institution&#8217;s commencement requirements<\/li><li>Correct gown level<\/li><li>Standard or custom gown requirements<\/li><li>Correct academic hood<\/li><li>Institutional hood lining<\/li><li>Correct hood edging specification<\/li><li>Tam or mortarboard requirement<\/li><li>Tassel specification<\/li><li>Correct gown size<\/li><li>Correct headwear size<\/li><li>Processing timeline<\/li><li>Shipping timeline<\/li><li>Return or exchange conditions<\/li><\/ul><h2>Faculty Academic Regalia From Cap and Gown Outlet<\/h2><p><strong>Cap and Gown Outlet<\/strong> is an independent academic regalia retailer serving individual graduates, faculty members and qualifying group and institutional customers.<\/p><p>Depending on current inventory and product configurations, academic-regalia selections may include:<\/p><ul><li>Doctoral graduation gowns<\/li><li>Doctoral academic hoods<\/li><li>Doctoral tams<\/li><li>Master&#8217;s graduation gowns<\/li><li>Master&#8217;s academic hoods<\/li><li>Bachelor&#8217;s graduation gowns<\/li><li>Graduation caps<\/li><li>Graduation tassels<\/li><li>Academic regalia packages<\/li><li>Graduation stoles<\/li><li>Honor and recognition cords<\/li><li>Diploma covers<\/li><\/ul><p>Faculty members purchasing academic regalia independently should verify the current requirements of the institution hosting the ceremony and the appropriate specifications for the academic degree being represented.<\/p><h2>Independent Retailer Disclosure<\/h2><p><strong>Cap and Gown Outlet is an independent academic regalia retailer and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by or officially authorized by any college or university unless an actual relationship has been established.<\/strong><\/p><p>The availability of a gown, academic hood, tam, mortarboard, tassel or faculty-regalia package does not establish that a product is approved for a particular institution or academic ceremony.<\/p><h2>Frequently Asked Questions About Faculty Academic Regalia<\/h2><h3>What should professors wear at commencement?<\/h3><p>Participating professors commonly wear academic regalia appropriate to an earned degree, subject to the host institution&#8217;s commencement requirements and traditions.<\/p><h3>Do professors have to wear doctoral gowns?<\/h3><p>No. Being a professor does not automatically mean the individual has earned a doctorate. Faculty should wear the academic-dress level appropriate to the degree being represented and follow institutional instructions.<\/p><h3>What does a professor with a PhD wear?<\/h3><p>A professor representing an earned PhD may wear doctoral-level academic dress, which can include a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.capandgownoutlet.com\/university-college\/doctoral-cap-and-gown\/gown-only.html\"><strong>doctoral gown<\/strong><\/a>, academic hood, approved headwear and tassel.<\/p><h3>What should a professor with a master&#8217;s degree wear?<\/h3><p>A faculty member representing a master&#8217;s degree would generally look to master&#8217;s-level academic dress rather than doctoral regalia, subject to institutional practice.<\/p><h3>Should professors wear regalia from the university where they teach?<\/h3><p>Not necessarily. Academic regalia can represent the professor&#8217;s earned degree and degree-granting institution rather than simply the university where the professor currently works.<\/p><h3>What hood should a professor wear?<\/h3><p>The appropriate hood should correspond to the academic degree being represented and its applicable institutional and discipline-related specifications.<\/p><h3>Can a professor wear an old graduation hood?<\/h3><p>Potentially, if it remains appropriate for the degree being represented and satisfies the host institution&#8217;s expectations.<\/p><h3>Can professors wear doctoral tams?<\/h3><p>Doctoral faculty commonly wear tams, but institutional practices vary. Some may use mortarboards or other approved headwear.<\/p><h3>Does an eight-sided tam mean full professor?<\/h3><p>No. The number of sides should not automatically be interpreted as faculty rank or academic prestige.<\/p><h3>Do professors move their tassels at graduation?<\/h3><p>Faculty should follow the host institution&#8217;s ceremony protocol rather than automatically participating in student tassel traditions.<\/p><h3>Can professors wear honor cords?<\/h3><p>Faculty should verify whether the institution permits or expects additional cords, stoles, medallions or other ceremonial distinctions.<\/p><h3>Should professors buy or rent academic regalia?<\/h3><p>Faculty members who participate frequently may find ownership practical, while occasional participants may consider rental where suitable options are available.<\/p><h3>Can professors wear black doctoral gowns instead of university-specific gowns?<\/h3><p>That depends on the academic-dress requirements and traditions applicable to the ceremony. Verify before purchasing.<\/p><h3>Can professors wear academic regalia from another university?<\/h3><p>A professor&#8217;s regalia may represent an earned degree from another institution, subject to the host institution&#8217;s commencement policies.<\/p><h3>How early should faculty order academic regalia?<\/h3><p>Order with enough time for processing, shipping, fitting and any permitted corrections or exchanges, particularly when custom academic dress is involved.<\/p><h2>Faculty Regalia Represents Academic Achievement, Not Faculty Rank<\/h2><p>The most useful principle when choosing <strong>faculty academic regalia<\/strong> is to separate academic credentials from employment titles.<\/p><p>Professor, associate professor, department chair and dean are professional or institutional roles. Bachelor&#8217;s, master&#8217;s and doctoral regalia represent academic degree levels and traditions.<\/p><p>Start with the degree being represented. Verify the gown appropriate to that degree. Confirm the academic hood rather than simply matching the colors of the institution where you currently teach. Then select the appropriate headwear and tassel according to institutional expectations.<\/p><p>For faculty members who participate in commencement year after year, comfort, durability and fit also become increasingly important. A well-fitted academic ensemble can serve through many commencements, convocations, hooding ceremonies and other formal academic events.<\/p><p>Most importantly, check the host institution&#8217;s current commencement instructions. Academic traditions can vary, and institutional guidance should take priority over generalized academic-dress advice.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Commencement is not only a major event for graduating students. Faculty members often play an important ceremonial role as professors, advisors, marshals, administrators, hooding faculty and representatives of the academic community. For professors participating in commencement, one practical question frequently comes up: What academic regalia should faculty wear? The answer usually begins with the academic [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3407,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-college-university-graduation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.capandgownoutlet.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3406","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.capandgownoutlet.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.capandgownoutlet.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.capandgownoutlet.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.capandgownoutlet.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3406"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.capandgownoutlet.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3406\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.capandgownoutlet.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3407"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.capandgownoutlet.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.capandgownoutlet.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3406"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.capandgownoutlet.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}