Academic Dress

NWP gowns are the customary Cambridge shape and made from dark navy blue material.

History

Academic dress has a long and complicated history, symbolizing our link with the early development and traditions of higher learning. Although there are countless variations throughout the world, the design and colours of gowns, hoods and caps are intended primarily to indicate the level of the degree awarded by a university or similar institution, as well as the discipline in which it has been awarded. The various academic dress worn by guests at your Convocation Ceremony represents study in numerous disciplines at a wide range of prestigious academic institutions throughout Canada and around the world.

Academic Dress on Convocation Day

In keeping with the traditions of higher learning, Northwestern Polytechnic will provide you with a graduation gown, hood/stole and cap (mortarboard) for the Convocation Ceremony. All gowns are the customary Cambridge shape and made from dark navy blue material falling below the knee with full sleeves. Mortarboards are dark navy blue and include tassels with a golden graduation year pendant hanging from the band, worn forward and to the left. Gowns and hoods/stoles are not for sale and must be returned after the ceremony. Caps and tassels make a terrific memento and are yours to keep.

Hoods

Undergraduate Programs are, in most cases, represented by the colours used by the degree-granting institution and mortarboard.

Northwestern Polytechnic

• School of Business - royal blue
• School of Health and Education - white
• School of Skilled Trades - gold
• School of Applied Science and Technology - crimson

University of Alberta

University of Alberta has hoods made in the Oxford pattern of spruce green material. The Bachelor's hood has a border three inches wide of the color distinctive of the Faculty as noted below:

• Bachelor of Science Nursing graduates are represented by a crimson and white hood
• Bachelor of Education graduates are represented by a royal blue hood

SAIT

• SAIT has hoods that are black with a gold trim

Please dress comfortably for the ceremony and the weather. Any combination of suit, blazer, dress pants, turtleneck or shirt and tie for men and suit, dress, pants, skirt or blouse for women is acceptable. During the Convocation Ceremony, students' hands must be free to accept handshakes and receive parchments. Please check your totes, purses, briefcases, valises, coats, sweaters, or flowers for safe keeping in the gown-up room, or leave them with family members or friends.

Gowning Up Before the Ceremony

Before your Convocation Ceremony, graduates must gown-up. The Grande Prairie gown-up room is staffed throughout the day, so the belongings you check will be safe. Students are required to sign in when they arrive and sign out when they return their gown at the end of the ceremony.

The Fairview gown-up room is staffed before and after the ceremony.

Contact Us

For more information about Convocation, please contact: