The Graduate College at the University of Vermont was formally established in 1952, though the first graduate degree was awarded in 1807. Today, UVM offers over 20 programs leading to a doctorate degree, but unlike many colleges and universities throughout the world, UVM had never formally created its own doctoral regalia.

What is doctoral regalia?

You may be asking yourself: What is “doctoral regalia"? If you have ever been to a University or College Commencement, you very likely noticed the colorful robes worn by the faculty and members of the platform party. And if you wondered why the robes were mostly different from each other, it’s because each robe, or regalia, signifies the institution from which that person graduated with their doctoral degree. Stanford University, for instance, has a lovely cardinal red–colored regalia. Michigan’s is blue and gold, and North Carolina, as you might imagine, is light blue.

Designing UVM's regalia

Last academic year, Dean Cynthia Forehand thought that it was time for UVM to have its own doctoral regalia, and with approval from President Sullivan and Provost Rosowsky, she began the process of investigating how to create such regalia. With the support of the UVM Graduate Executive Committee, an ad hoc subcommittee was formed made up of Dean Forehand, Dr. Elizabeth Fenton of the English program, and Graduate College Assistant Dean Dan Harvey.

Over the course of the year the committee began working with Oak Hall, a company from Virginia that has been making regalia and other formal wear since 1889. Oak Hall’s staff worked closely with the committee to provide advice and many swatches of material so that a design could slowly come into focus. The preliminary design was approved by the Graduate Executive committee and the President’s office last spring and, in June 2014, the first UVM doctoral regalia was ordered. It arrived in August and is the regalia pictured above.

Regalia available for purchase

On Monday, September 8, 2014, the new regalia was unveiled for the Graduate Executive Committee and then the full Faculty Senate. The response was overwhelmingly positive and generated much applause and pride in the University.

If you have graduated from the University of Vermont with a doctoral degree, you are eligible to purchase doctoral regalia from Oak Hall.  You can call 800-223-0429 and speak to a representative, or their website can be found at: oakhalli.com

The ad hoc doctoral regalia committee would like to thank the President, Provost, Faculty Senate, and the Graduate Executive Committee for their support in this educational and fun endeavor.