• Section 1 - Policy Statement
• Section 2 - Background Information
• Section 3 - Policy Scope
• Section 4 - Application of Policy
• Academic Dress
• Academic Dress Worn by Students Attending Their Graduation Ceremony
• Section 5 - Prescribed Regalia and How it is to be Worn
• Gowns
• Hoods and Stoles
• Mortar Boards and Bonnets
• Section 6 - Presiding and Presenting Officers at a Graduation Ceremony
• Part A - Schedule 1 – Academic Regalia at ACU
• ACU Senior Officers’ Academic Dress
• Members of the University Entitled to Wear Academic Dress
• Members of the University Not Entitled to Wear Academic Dress
• University Colours
• Section 7 - Revisions
• Section 8 - Associated Information

Section 1 - Policy Statement

(1) This Policy outlines the appropriate wearing of academic dress and regalia to be observed at public ceremonies of the Australian Catholic University (ACU).

Section 2 - Background Information

(2) There are established conventions about the wearing of academic dress, and this Policy outlines these conventions for ACU public ceremonies.

(3) ACU uses gowns of the Oxford and Cambridge pattern and there are distinctive gowns for different awards of the University, and for office bearers of the University.

Section 3 - Policy Scope

(4) This Policy applies to all members of the University including students, staff, office-bearers of the University and members of Senate who participate in University ceremonies in an official capacity.

Section 4 - Application of Policy

Academic Dress

(5) Academic dress shall be worn at graduation ceremonies and other University events as determined by the Vice-Chancellor and President.

(6) There is designated regalia prescribed under this Policy for the following roles:

1. Chancellor;
2. Vice-Chancellor and President;
3. Pro-Chancellor;
4. Presiding Officer (if not one of the above);
5. Members of Senate.

(7) Members of the University should wear academic dress as prescribed for their qualification and awarding institution.

(8) Members of the University who are not in possession of a qualification entitling them to academic dress, and who need to wear academic dress (for example in a procession or when acting as an attendant at a ceremony) may wear a plain black bachelor gown of the Oxford style; a mortar board is not worn.

(9) A person who has more than one award should wear the academic dress appropriate to the occasion and not a mixture of dress, normally the dress for the most senior award to which they are entitled.

Academic Dress Worn by Students Attending Their Graduation Ceremony

(10) A person being presented for an award should wear the dress for that award, and no other. The exception is the ACU Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, where members of staff receiving this award will be given the choice of wearing the regalia appropriate to the award or regalia for a higher degree to which they are entitled.

(11) Graduands must wear gowns, mortar boards or bonnets, hoods or stoles for the award being conferred on them at a graduation ceremony, as prescribed in Schedule 1 of this Policy.

(12) If two levels of award are being conferred at one ceremony, then the regalia for the higher award will be worn.

(13) If a combined award is being conferred from two Faculties of the University, then the colours of the professional or first-named award will be worn.

(14) Medals and decorations are not to be attached to any part of the academic dress, but may be worn on a person’s clothing.

Section 5 - Prescribed Regalia and How it is to be Worn

Gowns

(15) ACU uses gowns of the Oxford and Cambridge pattern.

(16) The same style in black is used for undergraduates and for those receiving awards at all levels below that of master. There are distinctive Oxford pattern gowns for the degrees of master and Cambridge pattern gowns for doctoral awards.

(17) The gowns for doctoral awards are Cambridge pattern and Honorary Doctorates of ACU are of the Oxford full dress pattern, with bell-shaped sleeves.

Hoods and Stoles

(18) Hoods and stoles for ACU awards, including the appropriate colours, are prescribed in Schedule 1 of this Policy.

(19) Hoods are of the Oxford pattern for degrees at level of bachelor and master; and of Cambridge pattern for doctoral degrees.

(20) Only one hood or stole should be worn at a time, with the exception of the ACU Indigenous stole which may be worn in combination with any ACU academic dress.

Mortar Boards and Bonnets

(21) Mortar boards and bonnets for ACU awards are prescribed in Schedule 1 of this Policy and must be worn in the prescribed manner.

(22) Mortar boards and bonnets form part of the academic dress and, therefore, remain worn throughout ceremonies except when the National Anthem is played, when all should be removed.

(23) It is not the custom to wear a mortar board or bonnet at dinners or luncheons for which academic dress is prescribed.

(24) A Doctoral bonnet is worn so that it is level, with the coloured cord tied in a long bow on the left side. The exception is the Presiding Officer at a graduation ceremony, where the bonnet is worn opposite to the norm.

(25) A mortar board is worn level, with the small peak at the front and the point in the centre of the forehead. The tassel is worn on the left hand side.

(26) If any head covering is normally worn by a person for religious or cultural convention, then the wearing of a mortar board or bonnet is a matter of preference for that person.

Section 6 - Presiding and Presenting Officers at a Graduation Ceremony

(27) The Presiding Officer will wear the designated regalia as detailed in Schedule 1.

(28) The Presenting Officer will wear their own academic dress, except in the following cases:

1. the Vice-Chancellor and President who will wear the prescribed regalia; or
2. a member of Senate who may opt to wear the Senate Regalia.

Part A - Schedule 1 – Academic Regalia at ACU

ACU Senior Officers’ Academic Dress

Members of the University Entitled to Wear Academic Dress

Members of the University Not Entitled to Wear Academic Dress

University Colours

Section 7 - Revisions

(29) The revision table includes revisions up until this document was migrated into the current policy platform. Any later changes will show in the Status and Details tab.

Section 8 - Associated Information

(30) For related legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines and any supporting resources please refer to the Associated Information tab.