News & Events

To celebrate Spring Convocation (June 8-17), Ryerson University shares the facts behind academic dress at graduation. For full details on Ryerson’s Convocation, visit http://www.ryerson.ca/convocation/.

Academic Dress
• The history of academic costume dates back to the earliest days of universities in the 14th century. The long robes and hoods were originally worn to protect students and faculty from cold, drafty and often unheated rooms and corridors.

• In Canada, there are three distinct systems of academic dress:

1. In the British tradition each institution has its own distinctive code of academic costume for high officers and graduands. In this system, there is no standardization of academic dress.

2. The “French-language Universities” system, used by Laval University, the University of Montreal and the University of Sherbrooke, is distinctive for the use of very elaborate pleating details. This academic costume emphasizes the function of the wearer, or his/her office within the University, rather than his/her academic status.

3. The Intercollegiate Code, used by universities and colleges in the United States, prescribes standardized gowns, hoods and caps only for the graduands along with a standard list of colours to distinguish the various programs which confer degrees. There is no standardization of faculty gowns in this system. The institution conferring the degree is indicated by its own distinctive colours and their arrangement in the hood lining.

• The longer the gown, the more dignified; 8” from the floor is ideal.

• Universities and colleges have not adopted a standard for headcoverings. Mortarboards, tams and beefeaters are often worn, but do not necessarily adhere to any particular system of academic dress. 

• Ryerson University adopted the Intercollegiate Code of academic dress to differentiate itself from the other existing universities in Toronto: the University of Toronto, which uses Oxford style, and York University, which uses Cambridge style.

Ryerson’s Honorary Doctorate Recipient Gown
Ryerson’s Honorary Doctorate Degree recipient gown follows the Intercollegiate Code and was originally designed in the style of a preaching gown worn by Egerton Ryerson, Ryerson University’s namesake.  

Traditionally gowns for doctorate degrees have three chevron stripes or bands on each sleeve and a lapel that continues down to the hem of the garment. Ryerson's bands and lapels are made of velvet following Intercollegiate Code style. The gown is black to provide contrast for the colours used in the velvet degree bands. Since the colours on these bands represent the degree being conferred, Ryerson had to identify an area of study outside its curriculum in order to distinguish the honorary degree from other degrees being conferred. Therefore it was decided that the bands and the lapels adorning Ryerson’s Honorary Doctorate Degree gown would be scarlet (traditionally representing Theology). In order to make the gown more characteristic to Ryerson, additional piping in an antique yellow (similar to Ryerson gold) was used to outline the scarlet velvet bands and the lapels.

The velvet banding on Ryerson's Honorary Doctorate Degree gown is 5”, indicating a Doctorate Degree. (Traditionally 2” banding is used for Bachelor's Degrees and 3” banding for Master's Degrees.)

Academic dress expert available for interviews:
Lucia Dell'Agnese
Professor, School of Fashion
(416) 979-5000 x.7172
ldellagn@ryerson.ca

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Johanna VanderMaas
Public Affairs
Ryerson University
Office: 416-979-5000 x 4630
johanna.vandermaas@ryerson.ca
@RyersonNews

If you require this in another format, please contact Ryerson University Public Affairs at 416-979-5000 x 7134.