Johnson & Wales Commencement > Florida

Cap & Gown
Cap & gown pickup will be available in the campus bookstore February 20 through May 19, 2012 after students have applied for graduation at jwuLink. Students who are unable to pick up a cap & gown during these times should make arrangements with the Bookstore for pickup at the ceremony.

What to Wear & How to Wear It
You are expected to wear the full academic dress (cap, gown and hood) appropriate to your degree. Graduates who are in the military are permitted to wear appropriate military dress uniforms. Men traditionally wear a white dress shirt, slacks, plain tie and dress shoes under the gown; women typically wear a dress or skirt and blouse and dress shoes under the gown.

Graduates should put on their cap and gown before entering the assembly area. Staff will be on hand if you need assistance. Leave coats, valuables and other items with parents, friends or guests. You will not be able to store any personal belongings in the assembly area nor will you be permitted to march in the procession with items such as bags, flowers, balloons etc.

The gown should be ironed and worn straight. Both the cap and gown should be worn at all times by women; men remove their caps for the national anthem, the invocation and the benediction, but wear them at all other times throughout the ceremony. The tassel is to hang on the front right side of the cap.

Graduates may purchase a stole of gratitude in the Bookstore for individuals in the audience who provided extraordinary support to him/her during their studies.

Academic Hood
Bachelor’s degree recipients also wear an academic hood representing their higher level of education. Your hood should be draped around your neck with the largest portion of the hood hanging down your back. The velvet border, which indicates your specific field of study, should be showing on the outside. The velvet should fold under on the lower back to allow the colors of your college to show. To keep your hood from being too tight against your neck, there is a cord on the front to help secure it to a shirt button or to pin to a blouse or dress.

The faculty and platform party will be wearing regalia representative of the degrees they possess. The president and other officials of the university will wear caps and gowns designed exclusively for Johnson & Wales University. The honorary degree recipients will wear the academic costume and hood appropriate for the degree being conferred upon them.

Honors Regalia

Academic honors: Students who qualify for cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude will receive a gold cord at the ceremony. Honors status will be confirmed in the confirmation email sent in April from Student Academic Services.

Honors program: Students who have completed all requirements of the Honors Scholastic Society will receive a gold stole to wear on the day of the ceremony. Students should contact Honors Coordinator Carol Koris at 305-892-7558 or visit her in the School of Arts & Sciences (Academic & Student Center 201) for additional information.

University service: Students who have completed a designated number of university service hours through student organizations like Collegiate Ambassador Team, Special Functions Team and Student Government Association will receive a blue and white braided cord from their club advisers.

Alpha Beta Kappa: Students selected as members of the Alpha Beta Kappa honor society will be presented with Alpha Beta Kappa honor cords at the University Awards Ceremony.

Eta Sigma Delta: Students who qualify for Eta Sigma Delta, a hospitality honor society, will receive an Eta Sigma Delta honor cord from the Hospitality College. Students should contact Professor David Edwards from The Hospitality College (ASC 401, 305-892-7589) for additional information.

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