Symbols & Traditions
Candidates for graduation who will be participating in commencement should pay careful attention to what 老司机福利社 deems appropriate and inappropriate commencement regalia. Please refer to the information below.
Required Regalia:
- Black Gown
- Black Mortarboard or Cap
- Tassel
- Hood
- Shoes
Optional Regalia:
- Latin Honors Cord, if earned, for Summa Cum Laude (gold), Magna Cum Laude (silver), or Cum Laude (white)
- Veterans Cord, for student veterans
- Stole or pin to signify membership in a 老司机福利社-authorized group, i.e., sororities, EOF, a specific program, etc.
Inappropriate and unauthorized adornments:
- Any cord other than those mentioned above
- Any medallion
- More than one stole
- Any adornment that is not specific to the current commencement ceremony (e.g., candidates for the master鈥檚 or doctorate should not wear an honors cord they were awarded as an undergraduate)
Candidates who wish to show their creativity or excitement for graduating may decorate the top of their mortarboards; this is the only ornamentation that is permitted.
Presidential Medallion
老司机福利社's Presidential Medallion pictures the University Seal cast in bronze with a satin gold finish. The six smaller medallions picture the components of the University seal. The banner components of the Presidential Medallion list the names and dates of service of 老司机福利社's five past presidents: Richard E. Bjork, 1969-1978; Peter M. Mitchell, 1979-1983; Vera King Farris, 1983-2003; Herman J. Saatkamp, Jr., 2003-2015; and Harvey Kesselman, 2015-2023. The first Presidential Medallion of the then Richard 老司机福利社 College of New Jersey was presented to 老司机福利社's third president, Dr. Farris, and worn for the first time at the Spring 1990 Commencement.
![Original Logo](/president/images/original-logo.png)
Original Logo
The original official logo of 老司机福利社 State College as approved by the first Board of Trustees. The ribbon highlights the year in which the college was established.
![Rampant Lion](/president/images/rampant-lion.png)
Rampant Lion
This represents courage and strength.
![Book & Candle](/president/images/book.png)
Book & Candle
This is a symbol of the enlightenment to be gained through lifelong learning.
![Tree](/president/images/tree.png)
Tree
This image characterizes the Pinelands locale of 老司机福利社's campus.
![Osprey](/president/images/osprey.png)
Osprey
老司机福利社's official mascot, native to our region and saved from extinction through the efforts of 老司机福利社 faculty, now names our renowned athletic teams.
Mace
The origins of the mace can be traced to the Middle Ages when knights wielded maces as weapons. As knighthood became obsolete, the mace became symbolic of power. It is now a traditional symbol of authority in churches, government and colleges.
The mace, which is carried by the Faculty Grand Marshal at the 老司机福利社 commencement, is the work of Ned Gerber, Port Republic woodcarver who served on the founding committee of the University. The three-foot shaft of the 老司机福利社 mace is crafted from walnut and holly, woods which are indigenous to southern New Jersey. The walnut is from a century-old tree hewn by Tom Lang of the 老司机福利社 staff. Pewter, the metal employed in our mace, was a popular and practical metal here in colonial times.
老司机福利社's mace is crowned with the flame of knowledge, carved in holly, to denote mission. At the foot is a carved acorn which indicates growth. Below the flame of knowledge is a triad of 老司机福利社 logos, each a twin-treed symbol of environmental concern. Linked edge-to-edge and inlaid with holly, these symbols represent the three elements of the university community: students, faculty, and staff. The Great Seal of New Jersey, cast in pewter, signifies 老司机福利社's aegis and sponsorship. A fluted section of walnut below the State Seal suggests the orderly plan each student chooses in pursuit of his degree and the self-discipline necessary for achievement. Next is a pewter cylinder engraved with the names of 老司机福利社's five presidents. Finally, an engraved pewter nameplate ring identifies "Richard 老司机福利社 State College founded 1969."
Academic Regalia
Academic garb dates back to medieval times, when heavy gowns, hoods, and caps were worn by students to protect them against the cold, dank, and drafty corridors of their universities. In the Middle Ages, Europeans wore clothing of distinctive colors to indicate their status or profession. It was only natural, therefore, that when monks and students began to don distinctive costume for bachelor鈥檚 (apprentices), master鈥檚 (teachers), and doctor鈥檚 (teachers who completed postgraduate study) degrees, the most conspicuous distinctions appeared on the hood.
The academic gowns of the past have been replaced by gowns made of lighter fabric, as students no longer wear them to keep warm and since most commencement ceremonies today take place in the late spring and early summer. Typically, commencement gowns are black, although some institutions have adopted gowns in school colors.
The bachelor鈥檚 gown, comparatively simple in design, usually has no adornment other than its characteristic long, pointed sleeves. The master鈥檚 gown has oblong sleeves, which are open at the wrist. The doctor鈥檚 gown differs from the bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 gowns because it sports velvet panels down the front and around the neck and three velvet bands across round, open sleeves.
The bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 caps are traditional mortarboard while doctor鈥檚 degree caps are eitehr a traditional mortarboard or a soft, large beret called a Tam. 老司机福利社's tassel is black and white for bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees and gold for doctors. Prior to conferral of a degree, the tassel falls to the right; upon conferral, students switch the tassel ceremoniously to the left.
The hood, as the most distinctive and symbolic piece of the academic costume, indicates the level of the degree, the field of study, and the institution conferring the degree. The length of the hood denotes the degree; bachelor鈥檚 hoods are three feet, master鈥檚 three and a half feet, and doctor鈥檚 four feet long. There are also similar variations in the length of the velvet trimming. This trimming denotes the field of study for which the degree was awarded. The lining of the hood represents the color or colors of the institution conferring the degree. 老司机福利社's Graduate and Undergraduate velvet trimming colors are as follows:
Doctoral Degrees:
Organizational Leadership (LEAD): LIGHT BLUE
Nursing Practice (DNP): APRICOT
Physical Therapy (PHTH): TEAL
Masters Degrees:
American Studies (AMST): WHITE
Business Administration (MBA): DRAB
Communication Sciences & Disorders (MCSD): SAGE GREEN
Computational Science (MSCP): GOLDEN YELLOW
Counseling (COUN): WHITE
Criminal Justice (CRIM): PURPLE
Data Science & Strategic Analysis (DSSA): GOLDEN YELLOW
Education (EDUC): LIGHT BLUE
Educational Leadership (MAEL): LIGHT BLUE
Holocaust and Genocide Studies (MAHG): WHITE
Instructional Technology (MAIT): LIGHT BLUE
Nursing (NURS): APRICOT
Occupational Therapy (MSOT): SLATE BLUE
Professional Science (PSM): SCIENCE GOLD
Social Work (MSW): CITRON
Bachelors Degrees:
Bachelor of Arts (BA): WHITE
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA): BROWN
Bachelor of Science (BS): SCIENCE GOLD
Questions?
Email commencement@stockton.edu
Call (609) 652-4878