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

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.

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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.