Cap and Gown: Student Reference Guide

This information is provided by the Graduation Department of the Cal Student Store and any questions regarding its content should be directed to the store's department at 510-642-9000 x681.

2005 IB Graduates

 

Cap & Gown Rental

  • Rentals begin Monday, February 26, 2008 and continue throughout May.
  • Pre-ordering is not necessary.
  • Caps are one size fits all; gown size is determined by your height.
  • The gown (and hood) must be returned by Friday, June 1, 2008 or a progressive late fee will be charged, and your diploma will be held by the university until payment has been made.
  • You keep the cap and tassel.
  • Rental includes gown, hood (for Masters and Doctors only*), cap, and tassel with a 2008 drop date.
Bachelor
 $40.00
Master*
 $65.00 (includes hood)
Doctor*
 $69.00 (includes hood)
  • NOTE: Since gowns are rented throughout May, most people can rent as late as the day of their ceremony. However, please allow for a half-hour wait in line, especially within the last three days, as the store is extremely busy. We recommend renting early. If possible, come after the last three days during the off-peak hours of the early morning or afternoon.
  • Additional price information available here [scanned document].

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Graduation Announcements

Graduation announcements are formal notices to send to family and friends announcing your graduation. Announcements come in two forms: generic or personalized.

  • Generic announcements come in packs of 10 for $19.95 and include:
    • announcements, inner and outer envelopes, and cards upon which you can write your name and degree.
    • Spanish generic announcements are also available in packs of 10 for $19.95

NOTE: Announcements are formal notices, not invitations to your Commencement . The IB Commencement has limited space available. See our Tickets page for specifics.

  • Personalized announcements announce your name, major, degree, and day, date, time, and location of your ceremony in the text of the card. Filling out a personalized announcement deos not equal an invitation or ticket to Commencement.
    • They come with inner and outer envelopes and a plastic envelope filler.
    • The minimum order is 25 announcements for $67.95, after which you can order more in sets of 10 for $20.00.
    • You may also include an additional line of text to announce honors, emphasis in, minor, or double major at no extra charge.
    • There is enough room to indude two dates on your announcement, so double majors can choose to include both dates if desired.
    • Personalized announcements are available for pick-up 48 hours after receipt of purchase from the Cal Student Store.

NOTE: Announcements are formal notices, not invitations to your Commencement . The IB Commencement Ceremony has limited space available. See our Tickets page for specifics.

Formal etiquette suggests announcements should arrive at their destination at least two weeks prior to your ceremony. They come with inner and outer envelopes. The outer envelope should be addressed formally (i.e. Mr., Mrs., Ms., with the full name spelled out). The inner envelope may be addressed informally (e.g. Mom, Aunt Beatrice, Cuddlecakes, etc.). Etiquette seals are used to seal the inner envelopes and are available in packs of 25 for $8.00 at the ASUC Store.

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Graduation Stoles

Students also have the option of wearing a UC Berkeley or ethnically-significant stole to their graduation ceremony. The UCB Stole is a length of satin with a special embroidered UCB seal patch, and can be worn by any student to decorate the graduation gown.

The stole can be embroidered to include the name of a fraternity/sorority, student organization/club, sports team, or with "Class of 2008"'. Often they are given to the organization's seniors as a congratulatory gift. They can also be worn unembroidered with just the patch.

The stole hangs around the back of the neck, with the two ends lying flat on the chest. Because of the fine satin, the stole tends to slip during heavy movement, so we recommend pinning the stole from the inside to the graduation gown.

Especially nice for graduation pictures and regal-looking when worn in ceremony, the stole is available for purchase for $25.00.

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Graduation Packages

Take care of all your graduation worries with one order! Grad packs include everything you need for graduation. Order forms and samples are in the Cal Student Store. Grad Packs are available starting Monday, Feb. 27, 2007. See the store or call about shipping grad packs.

Grad Pack #1
  • Gown (& Hood*)
  • RentalCap and Tassel
  • 25 Personalized Announcements
  • 25 Thank You Cards
  • 25 Etiquette Seals
  • Diploma Cover
  • One Year Membership to California Alumni Association
 Bachelor
Master*
Doctor*		 $99.00
$119.00
$125.00
Grad Pack #2    
  • Gown (& Hood*) Rental
  • Cap and Tassel
  • 25 Personalized Announcements
  • 25 Thank You Cards
  • 25 Etiquette Seals
  • Deluxe Medallion Diploma Frame
  • One Year Membership to California Alumni Association
 Bachelor
Master*
Doctor*
JD/OD* 		$234.00
$254.00
$250.00
$260.00

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General Information

Honor Cords:

  • If you are graduating with honors in IB, you are eligible to purchase an honor cord for $15.00 to wear during your ceremony. You may purchase an Honor Cord after Feb. 9, 2008. The honor cord is a double gold rope that hangs from your neck and dangles in front.

Masters and Doctors:

  • Masters and Doctoral students may rent hoods to wear during the ceremony. A hood is a cowl-type decoration worn around the neck that hangs down the back.
  • A velveteen strip of material reflects the degree and the inside opens up to satin, reflecting the institution where the degree was conferred.
  • The hood should be worn such that, from the front, the satin is on bottom and the velveteen is on top, closest to the head.
  • Here are some color examples. Please see the store for more color identities:
Ph.D
 -- Royal Blue
Master of Science
-- Gold
EDD
 -- Light Blue
Master of Engineering
 -- Orange
DPH
 -- Salmon
Master of Arts
-- White
JD
 -- Purple
MBA
 -- Beige

The store orders hoods based on the department's estimates of graduates. Please know the exact title of your degree prior to rental. Students have mistaken their degree titles and ended up in the ceremony wearing a hood color different from their classmates. For example, a Masters OF Engineering is different from a Masters of Science IN Engineering. Not all Doctor degrees are a Ph.D. However, a Ph.D. is universal, so a Ph.D. in Education will have the same color as a Ph.D. in MCB.

If you already have a graduate degree, it is not proper to wear two hoods, or to wear a hood of an already conferred degree while receiving another. If you plan on teaching and will later attend ceremonies as a faculty member, you should wear the hood reflecting the highest degree earned or if two equal degrees, choose one.

You can also purchase your graduation gown and hood.

  • Velvet Ph.D hoods and tarns (in blue or black) are available at the store for immediate purchase, and you can order custom gowns.
  • Tailor-made gowns can take approximately 6-8 weeks. Any customers ordering custom made gowns later than 6-8 weeks before the ceremony will receive free rental regalia.
  • Purchasing custom regalia is highly recommended for graduates who continue in education, e.g. teaching, and who will participate in graduation ceremonies as a professor in the future.
  • Please stop by the Cal Student Store for more details or to have measurements taken.

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Grad Fair: April 22, 23, & 24, 2008

  • Order grad packs, gown rentals, and announcements
  • Receive information about rings, yearbooks, Alumni Association membership, and post-graduation planning with the Career Center and Kaplan testing services.
  • Come and enter for a chance to win prizes!

For more information or for questions:

Call 510-642-9000 x681
or visit the Graduation Department of the Cal Student Store

CONGRATULATIONS!

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