COMMENCEMENT COMMITTEE POLICY

FOR ACADEMIC OCCASIONS

From time to time, it is beneficial to remind ourselves of the rules governing regalia, line of march, and general decorum at formal academic occasions when we come together as a group to represent VWC and the greater academic community.

REGALIA

In addition to the appropriate gown and hood, a mortarboard or tam is required. Elaine Aird, in the Business Office, is willing to order mortarboards and other regalia for faculty members (at the expense of the faculty member). She has fabric samples from the regalia manufacturer that VWC orders from: Oak Hall in Salem, Virginia. Or faculty members can order directly from a manufacturer such as Jostens, etc. Be sure to allow ample delivery time when ordering.

Regalia should be clean and unwrinkled.

Under their regalia, faculty members are expected to follow the same guidelines for commencement attire followed by our graduating seniors:

“Guidelines for appropriate attire at Commencement have been established by the Commencement Committee so as to maintain the dignity due the occasion and to avoid embarrassment to the College, the graduates, and their families. Black academic gowns and mortar boards are the dress of the day, complemented by dark skirts, dresses or dress pants and black dress shoes for women and dress pants and black shoes and socks for men. Flip-flops, tennis shoes, bare feet and shorts are unacceptable.

In accordance with the national code on academic regalia, no personal adornments of any kind are to be worn on the cap, gown, or hood. This includes badges, corsages, and lettering of any kind.”

LINE OF MARCH

A list of the line of march for faculty members is created each August. That list is then utilized for each academic event throughout the given school year. A copy of this list is posted on the wall at each function in which faculty are expected to march in regalia.

Each faculty member’s placement on the list is determined by rank and length of service to VWC, etc. Division Chairs are listed first, followed by full professors by year in which they were promoted to that rank. If multiple full professors are appointed in the same year, then those individuals are ordered alphabetically. Professors are followed by Associate Professors. Then come Assistant Professors and Instructors.

Out of respect to our colleagues, it is important to line up according to the posted list.

An exception: If the individual who is supposed to be walking in front of you is absent, move forward into that space.

GENERAL DECORUM

When in academic regalia, faculty are to behave in such a way as to reinforce the solemnity and reverence of the occasion and their respect for academia in general.

Reading anything other than the event program is, of course, unacceptable.