How to Wear a Graduation Regalia Stole & Cord
Guidelines for academic dress in the U.S. is regulated by the American Council on Education, which doesn't recognize any adornment or decoration outside of the standard gowns, hoods and caps. Traditionally, cords and stoles worn at graduation have indicated membership in some type of group, such as a professional or academic honor society (e.g., Phi Kappa Phi). Other schools reserve cords and stoles for students with certain GPAs, the class valedictorian, or other designations determined by the individual institution.
Things You'll Need
- Academic regalia (robe, hood and cap) according to your degree
- Cord(s) or stole(s) you plan to wear
Instructions
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Check your school's guidelines for the wearing of cords and stoles, to see if you are permitted or required to wear one.
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Obtain the correct the color and style of cord or stole for you. For example, you may be entitled to wear a cord of a certain color if your GPA falls above a certain level, or ir you are a member of an honor society.
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Choose your academic robe and/or hood according to your degree level (high school, bachelor's, master's or doctorate), and put it on. If you're not sure which type of hood to wear, check with your school, or the ACE guidelines for academic regalia.
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Adjust the cord so the knot (if there is one) is in the center, and place it over your head. You may tie a knot if there isn't one already, but it's not required. For stoles, ensure that any embroidery or writing is facing right-side-up.
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Place any other cords or stoles on top of your robe. Unlike academic hoods, it is permitted to wear more than one of these adornments at once, so each one of your accomplishments can be recognized.
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Tips & Warnings
Stoles, cords and medallions may also be worn apart from academic dress and on top of normal civilian clothes, such as at events given by individual colleges or departments within a university,
Stoles are wide, flat vestments draped about the shoulders of standard academic dress, such as of a class valedictorian. Some honor societies may embroider their initials onto a stole.
Be sure to check with your school to see whether it follows standard ACE regulations for academic regalia.
