graduate women otago
gowning graduates since 1933!
Academic Dress Hire
Graduate Women Otago run a fund-raising business hiring out academic dress. Proceeds provide funds for fellowships, awards, grants and special projects in the community. We have managed the hire of academic dress for University of Otago graduation ceremonies since the 1930's. In 1933, the Branch made six hoods for hiring to graduands and by 1935, the Branch owned 19 hoods, 11 trenchers, and one gown. In 1939, we took over the hiring of the University’s trenchers and in 1954, took over all hiring arrangements from the University Council buying the University’s gowns – 150 of them.
Since then, the Branch's stock of academic dress has grown exponentially with more being added all the time. The Branch currently owns over 1,200 gowns, 3,600 hoods, 1,200 trenchers, plus 170 black velvet John Knox caps, and a dozen or so Tudor Bonnets.
Ahead of each graduation ceremony (in May, August, and December), the usually quiet Academic Dress Rooms become a hive of activity, hiring gowns, hoods, and John Knox caps to excited graduands. During this time, we ask members to volunteer to help with the collection and return of academic dress.
(Opposite image courtesy of Otago University)
How to hire…
1
OUR Opening Times.
The Academic Dress Rooms are open for casual hiring on both Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12 noon and 2 pm.
For opening hours during graduation periods, please consult the University of Otago’s Graduation webpage: https://www.otago.ac.nz/study/graduation/
2
Where?
We are located in the University Quadrangle. During opening hours a Graduate Women Otago flag will be situated outside the entrance to the Gowning Room which is located in the central basement of the Clocktower Building at the University of Otago. Image below: Otago University Quadrangle
Image Attribution: Lord A.Nelson, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
3
ACADEMIC REGALIA REQUIREMENTS
Graduation academic dress requirements are listed below:
Gown – there are four types of gowns: a black Bachelor's gown, a black Master's gown, a maroon gown for PhD, DClinDent, EdD, DBA, and DMA degrees, and a scarlet gown for other doctoral degrees
Cap – for all Masters' and Bachelors' degrees is a black trencher or 'mortar board' (as pictured right). Doctoral graduates wear a black velvet John Knox cap
Hood – this hangs around your neck and down your back and the colour of the hood lining denotes the degree
Academic dress is worn for only one degree at a time, for instance you should not mix a Master's gown with a Bachelor's hood.
Only one hood is worn at a time, therefore if you are receiving two degrees, you should choose which hood you will wear at the ceremony. While you do not need the second hood for ceremony itself, you may still wish to hire this for photographs.
Regalia hire volunteers and graduation marshals will advise you on wearing your regalia correctly.
For further information, including prescribed hood colours, please see the Academic Dress Statue