Traditions and KPU Regalia

University Mace

The mace was originally a weapon during the medieval period, and came to be associated with the prowess and strength of the knight. Today the mace is a symbol of the university's authority to award degrees and diplomas. It indicates the seriousness of Convocation as the university's most important academic ceremony, and is a confirmation of the university's integrity as an academic institution. The mace is carried by a mace-bearer, who leads the processional of faculty and students into and out from the venue where Convocation is held. The mace is usually between four feet and six feet in length and will incorporate the history and tradition that surround the vision for the university. An academic mace symbolizes the authority vested in the Chancellor to confer university credentials. This is why the mace is an integral part of Convocation. Maces are often commissioned to commemorate a milestone anniversary or presidential inauguration. Typically an artist is selected for the honour to develop a highly symbolic design that incorporates the university's traditions.

Profile of the Artist

Drew Atkins

KPU's mace was carved by Kwantlen First Nation artist Drew Atkins. Atkins was born in Victoria, B.C. He started carving long before he ever touched a knife to wood. As a young boy he spent many afternoons watching some of the early Masters carve at the Royal History Museum's Totem Pole Park in Victoria, planting a seed that would take root much later in life. Atkins apprenticed under renowned Master Carver Xwa-lack-tun (Rick Harry) for eight years working on many projects together. Atkins has worked for the Langley School District as an Indigenous support worker and as an instructor in carving at Brookswood Secondary. Atkins and his wife Phyllis, a renowned painter and jeweller, established K'wy'i'ye Spring Salmon Studio at the Kwantlen First Nation. Atkins' work may also be seen in Fort Langley's Spirit Square where his large cedar panel carvings connect the Spirit Square with the National Historic Site and Museum.


KPU Regalia

Standard for Academic Dress

At Kwantlen Polytechnic University, all graduates wear a black gown of Oxford shape and a black cap, or mortar board. All students wear a black tassel on their mortar board, and the tassel hangs to the left of the cap. Graduates of our bachelor's degree programs wear hoods in the Aberdeen style, made of black pilgrim cloth and bordered with a one-half inch border. The border of each hood is a specific colour that identifies a particular area of study.

Honorary Degrees: KPU Colours

All Honorary degree recipients wear a black gown of an Oxford shape and a black cap, or mortar board with a black tassel with a custom removable cover featuring the circle Salmon and Wolf Art in Charcoal and Grey.  Honorary graduates are provided a custom hood by KPU featuring the circle Salmon and Wolf Art in Charcoal and Grey.

Graduate Diplomas and Certificates: KPU Hood Colours

FacultyKPU HoodColour
Melville School of BusinessBlack hood with beige border and silver piping 

 

Post-Baccalaureate Diplomas and Certificates: KPU Stole Colours

FacultyKPU StoleColour
Wilson School of DesignLight Purple Satin with Black Ribbon 
Melville School of BusinessDrab Satin with Black Ribbon 

 

Bachelor's Degrees: KPU Hood Colours

Faculty and DegreeKPU HoodColour
Wilson School of Design  
Bachelor of Design, Fashion and TechnologyBlack hood with bilberry border 
Bachelor of Design, Graphic Design for MarketingBlack hood with bilberry border 
Bachelor of Design, Product DesignBlack hood with bilberry border 
Bachelor of Interior DesignBlack hood with bilberry border 
Faculty of Arts  
Bachelor of Applied Arts in PsychologyBlack hood with winter white border 
Bachelor of ArtsBlack hood with winter white border 
Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy)Black hood with admiralty blue border 
Bachelor of Arts in Community Criminal JusticeBlack hood with winter white border 
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual ArtsBlack hood with sugar beet border 
Bachelor of JournalismBlack hood with Harvard crimson border 
Bachelor of Music in Musical ArtsBlack hood with pink border 
Bachelor of Science in Applied PsychologyBlack hood with winter white border 
Faculty of Health  
Bachelor of Psychiatric NursingBlack hood with regal gold border 
Bachelor of Science in NursingBlack hood with regal gold border 
Faculty of Science  
Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable AgricultureBlack hood with California burgundy border 
Bachelor of Horticulture ScienceBlack hood with California burgundy border 
Bachelor of ScienceBlack hood with Brite Gold border 
Melville School of Business  
Bachelor of Business Administration in AccountingBlack hood with beige border 
Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurial LeadershipBlack hood with beige border 
Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources MgmtBlack hood with beige border 
Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing ManagementBlack hood with beige border 
Bachelor of Technology in Information TechnologyBlack hood with aztec gold border 

Associate Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and Citations: KPU Stole Colours

FacultyKPU StoleColour
Wilson School of DesignLight Purple Satin 
Faculty of Academic & Career AdvancementEmerald Satin 
Faculty of ArtsWhite Satin 
Faculty of HealthBrite Gold Satin 
Faculty of ScienceOrange Satin 
Faculty of Trades & TechnologyGray Satin 
Melville School of BusinessDrab Satin 

 

 

 

Regalia Examples

 

Honorary Degree Recipients
All Honorary degree recipients wear an eight-sided tam of navy blue velvet with gold bullion cord tassels.

The gown is of Oxford shape using maroon pilgrim cloth for the body and sleeves, with three navy blue velvet chevrons and silver velvet panels.

Hoods for honorary graduates are of intercollegiate style, maroon in colour to match the gowns, with a sugarbeet satin lining, a silver satin chevron and trim and grey piping.


Board Chair


Board Member

Board of Governors
The Board Chair wears a maroon gown made of pilgrim cloth with bell sleeves, black velvet panels down the front, and gold piping.

Members of the Board of Governors wear a black gown of Oxford shape with a two-colour satin vee stole in maroon and silver metallic.


PhD hood (code 11-1)


Bachelor's hood (code 7-01)


Non-degree Stole

Faculty & Other Platform Party Members
Regalia provided to faculty and/or platform party members are of the University of Manitoba standard, as provided by our Canadian regalia provider, Gaspard & Sons located in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Faculty and platform party members who do not have a degree may wear Kwantlen's designated satin stole in maroon.


Black Mortar Board and Tassel


Student - Drab Satin Stole.

Students wear a black mortar board and tassel with the tassel hanging to the wearer's left.