Graduation Tassel Etiquette
The big day has finally arrived, and after years of books, tests, and endless hours of homework, you will finally be receiving your diploma. After purchasing your cap and gown, you may be wondering what the proper etiquette is for your cap. Does the tassel go on the left or the right? When do you move it? Knowing the rules will alleviate some of the stress that accompanies a graduation ceremony.
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History
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Graduation ceremonies are thought to originate at Oxford University in 1432, where graduates were expected to give a sermon in Latin as part of the ceremony, according to a BYU NewsNet article. Because there were so many religious officials affiliated with universities at that time, the ceremonies were usually religious in nature, as explained in a NetGlimpse article on the History of Graduation.
Caps and gowns
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Caps and gowns were originally color-coordinated according to the student's field of study, BYU NewsNet reports. It was not until a meeting held by the American Council on Education's Committee on Academic Costumes and Ceremonies in 1959 that this tradition was adapted. According to NetGlimpse, caps and gowns are now associated with the individual school's colors, and it is typically unacceptable to wear any kind of decoration on the robes, but it has become a recent trend to decorate caps.
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Significance of the tassel
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At the high school level, the tassel's color is probably relative to the school's colors. However, according to BYU NewsNet, at the college-level, if the tassel is not black, its color may signify the level of education completed. The American Council on Education's website dictates, for instance, that earning a doctorate degree may be indicated by a gold tassel.
During the ceremony
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According to BYU NewsNet, the tassel is typically worn on the right side of the cap until the degree is received, at which point it is moved to the left side. Still, instructions from the individual institution should always take precedent. Also, the appropriate time to move the tassel is somewhat debatable and may be dictated by the institution. Some choose to move the tassel directly following receiving their diploma, as they walk across the stage. Others may wait until every graduate has received a diploma, at which time they will be directed by a school official to move the tassel.
After the ceremony
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While it's all too common for graduates to hang their tassel from the rear view mirror of their car, there are other options available for the preservation of graduation cap tassels. A variety of frames are available in the form of a box frame, as well as frames that will display both the diploma and the tassel.
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References
- Photo Credit Cap, Gown, and Tassel image by TMLP from Fotolia.com
