Symbols and Customs

ACADEMIC PROCESSION

At Kettering University, the processional begins with the bachelor’s degree candidates and the master’s degree candidates, followed by the faculty and staff, the platform party, the grand marshal (carrying the mace) and the University President. The platform party consists of the University President, members of the board of trustees, administrative officers, Deans, faculty and student representatives, and speakers.

ACADEMIC DRESS

Academic dress consists of a cap, gown, and hood, which indicate the degree held by the wearer and the college or university that awarded that degree. The academic world recognizes three basic levels of achievement. These bachelors, masters, and doctors. In the late 19th century, American universities formed a commission that prepared a code for academic costumes. That code has been updated and is used today by most colleges and universities.

Gowns for the bachelors and masters degree are untrimmed and quite similar, with sleeve structure being the chief distinguishing feature. For the doctoral degree, the gown is faced down the front with black or colored velvet and with three velvet chevrons of the same across the sleeves. The shape and size of the American hood mark the degree of the wearer, the lining of the hood is indicative of the institution granting the degree, and the color of velvet trim indicates the major field of knowledge. Caps traditionally have a tassel fastened to the midpoint. A doctoral cap may have a tassel of gold thread.

Graduates at Kettering University wear black gowns with the tassel color signifying the degree. For all academic purposes, including the edging of hoods and tassels of caps, the colors associated with the different disciplines at Kettering University are as follows: Orange = Engineering, Drab = Business, Yellow/Gold = Science/Math.

UNIVERSITY MACE

An academic procession is led by a grand marshal carrying a ceremonial mace. Historically, the mace is a symbol of authority dating from the Middle Ages when knights carried them during processions with their kings. As the tradition grew, the mace became a ceremonial symbol of peaceful leadership, and maces were embellished with jewels and metals. Today, a university’s mace is carried before the president or chancellor and platform-party dignitaries during commencement, inaugural and other academic ceremonial processions.

The mace used in academic ceremonies at Kettering University was handcrafted by Mel Aukemann, a Grand Rapids, Michigan woodcarver, from over 10 varieties of wood and sterling silver. It was commissioned by the Kettering/GMI Alumni Association and the Kettering/GMI Alumni Foundation in 1982 to represent and honor the establishment of GMI Engineering & Management Institute (now Kettering University) as a private, independent college. It was first used in the 1983 commencement ceremony.

PRESIDENTIAL REGALIA

A presidential robe is based on the traditional doctoral gown with a fourth velvet doctoral chevron on each sleeve. It is traditional for the president to wear the colors of the university. Therefore, Kettering’s presidential robe is blue with four gold trimmed, black velvet chevrons. Kettering’s president wears a doctoral cap and hood representative of his degree-granting institution.

PRESIDENTIAL MEDALLION

The presidential medallion is another academic symbol that originated in the Middle Ages. Today, university presidents wear these ornate pieces on ceremonial occasions as part of their academic regalia. It is worn as a symbol of their allegiance to the institution.

Kettering University’s first presidential medallion was presented in 2011 at the inauguration ceremony of President Robert K. McMahan. The medallion is antique finish brass and depicts the official university seal. The surround reads “KETTERING UNIVERSITY — PRESIDENT” with the year 1919 signifying the year the university was established. Directly above the medallion is a smaller medallion engraved with the name of the current university president, Robert K. McMahan. Links of the chain are adorned with six additional medallions engraved with the names of past university presidents and their terms of office, symbolizing the continuity of responsibility in the office.