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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 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.

Graduate Diplomas and Certificates: KPU Hood Colours

Faculty KPU Hood Colour
Melville School of Business Black hood with beige border and silver piping  

 

Post-Baccalaureate Diplomas and Certificates: KPU Stole Colours

Faculty KPU Stole Colour
Chip and Shannon Wilson School of Design Light Purple Satin with Black Ribbon  
Melville School of Business Drab Satin with Black Ribbon  

 

Bachelor's Degrees: KPU Hood Colours

Faculty and Degree KPU Hood Colour
Chip and Shannon Wilson School of Design    
Bachelor of Design, Fashion and Technology Black hood with bilberry border  
Bachelor of Design, Graphic Design for Marketing Black hood with bilberry border  
Bachelor of Design, Product Design Black hood with bilberry border  
Bachelor of Interior Design Black hood with bilberry border  
Faculty of Arts    
Bachelor of Applied Arts in Psychology Black hood with winter white border  
Bachelor of Arts Black hood with winter white border  
Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy) Black hood with admiralty blue border  
Bachelor of Arts in Community Criminal Justice Black hood with winter white border  
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Arts Black hood with sugar beet border  
Bachelor of Journalism Black hood with Harvard crimson border  
Bachelor of Music in Musical Arts Black hood with pink border  
Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology Black hood with winter white border  
Faculty of Health    
Bachelor of Psychiatric Nursing Black hood with regal gold border  
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Black hood with regal gold border  
Faculty of Science and Horticulture    
Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture Black hood with California burgundy border  
Bachelor of Horticulture Science Black hood with California burgundy border  
Bachelor of Science Black hood with Brite Gold border  
Melville School of Business    
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting Black hood with beige border  
Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurial Leadership Black hood with beige border  
Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources Mgmt Black hood with beige border  
Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Management Black hood with beige border  
Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology Black hood with aztec gold border  

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

Faculty KPU Stole Colour
Chip and Shannon Wilson School of Design Light Purple Satin  
Faculty of Academic & Career Advancement Emerald Satin  
Faculty of Arts White Satin  
Faculty of Health Brite Gold Satin  
Faculty of Science & Horticulture Orange Satin  
Faculty of Trades & Technology Gray Satin  
Faculty of Business Drab 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.