Spring_Commencement_2020

ACADEMIC APPAREL The present day academic costume seems to have originated at Oxford and Cambridge Universities and is a survival of ecclesiastical garb of the late middle ages. In the 1890s, American universities and colleges established a uniform code for caps, gowns and hoods for the various degrees. The gown is usually of black material (serge or worsted for bachelors, the same or silk for masters and silk for doctors). The doctors’ dress gowns of the chief British universities are scarlet. Bachelors’ gowns have pointed sleeves, masters’ have long closed sleeves, lunated at the bottom with slits at the elbow from which the arms protrude; the doctors’ have wide, round open sleeves. Doctors’ gowns are faced with panels of velvet down the front and three bars of velvet across each sleeve. The cap, the square mortarboard in American universities, but a round, soft, flat hat in British, Canadian and some European universities, bears a tassel which may be black for all ranks and degrees, or may be of gold thread for doctors and the color of the degree for bachelors and masters. The tassel should be worn draped over the left front quarter of the cap. The hood, worn around the neck to hang down the back, is the principal emblem of the degree held. It is edged with velvet of the color of the degree while the lining of silk bears the colors of the institution which granted the degree. Bachelors’ hoods are three feet long, masters’ three and one half and doctors’ hoods have wide panels at the sides. Hoods may be worn only after the degree has been granted. Originally hoods had three uses: a head covering, a shoulder cape and as a bag in which alms could be collected. The degree colors are appropriate to the category of the degree, rather than to the scholar’s major subject. For example, the appropriate color for degrees in Arts and Letters is white; in Commerce, sapphire; in Education, light blue; in Engineering, orange; in Fine Arts, brown; in Humanities, crimson; in Laws, purple; in Library Science, lemon; in Medicine, green; in Music, pink; in Pharmacy, olive; in Philosophy, dark blue; in Physical Education, sage; in Science, golden yellow; in Theology, scarlet. Graduation honors are determined by grade point average of all work at Northern State University. Based on coursework completed at the end of the term prior to graduation, qualified students become candidates for honors and are recognized in the commencement program. Final graduation honors will be determined when all requirements have been met and will be indicated on the student’s diploma. Students who have earned an average of 3.50 honor points for each semester hour taken at Northern State University shall be graduated cum laude (honors). Those who earn 3.70 honor points shall be graduated magna cum laude (high honors), and those earning 3.90 honor points for each semester hour shall be graduated summa cum laude. Magna cum laude and summa cum laude (highest honors) honors are only awarded to students who have completed at least sixty semester hours of credit at Northern State University. ACADEMIC HONORS Medallions were used as adornments in ancient times and served as seals and symbols of authority. The Northern State University medallion, a gift of the Northern State Alumni Association, has been worn at official academic ceremonies by a succession of Northern State University presidents. THE MEDALLION Northern State University’s official seal incorporates symbols of its heritage and traditions within a motif of concentric circles that represent continuity and perseverance. The mission of the university, “teaching, research, service,” is circumscribed by the circles. The seal features a sentinel gatepost marking the way to the institution and the world of learning and opportunity that form its center. The seal, created by Northern State University’s former graphic designer, Diane Francis, bears the inscription “1901,” the year that South Dakota’s gateway college was established by the South Dakota Legislature. THE SEAL ALMA MATER Standing in Dakota’s grandeur Under skies of blue; Home of loyal sons and daughters, Hail to NSU! Northern State, our Alma Mater, Pride fills all our days. Years and miles may pass between us, Still we sing your praise.