2008
Political Science Commencement
CAP AND GOWN
This information is provided by the Cal
Student Store and any questions regarding its content should be
directed to the store at 510-642-9000, x681.
CAP & GOWN RENTAL
Cap and gown rentals generally begin in February
and continue throughout May. There is no need to pre-order. The caps are
one size fits all, and the gown size is determined by your height. The
rental includes a cap, gown, tassel with drop date, and hood (for Masters
and Doctors only). The gown (and hood) must be returned by early June
or a progressive late fee will be charged, and your diploma will be held
by the university until payment has been made. You keep the cap and the
tassel. Graduate Rentals: includes gown, hood (if applicable), cap, and
tassel.
Bachelor $40.00
Master $65.00 (indudes hood)
Doctor $69.00 (indudes hood and tam)
** Prices are from last year's commencement; subject to change.
NOTE: Since gowns are rented throughout May, most people can rent as
late as the day of their ceremony. However, please allow for a half-hour
wait in line, as the store is extremely busy. We recommend renting early.
If possible, come during the off-peak hours of the early morning or afternoon.
GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Graduation announcements are formal notices to send to family and friends
announcing your graduation. Announcements come in two forms: generic or
personalized.
Generic announcements come in packs of 10 and include announcements, inner and outer envelopes, and cards upon which you can write your name and degree. Spanish generic announcements are also available .
Personalized announcements announce your name, major, degree, and day, date, time, and location of your ceremony in the text of the card. They come with inner and outer envelopes and a plastic envelope filer. The minimum order is 25 announcements, after which you can order more in sets of 5. You may also include an additional line of text to announce honors, emphasis in, minor, or double major at no extra charge. There is enough room to indude two dates on your announcement, so double majors can choose to include both dates if desired. Personalized announcements are shipped within 21 days after receipt of purchase from the Cal Student Store.
NOTE: Announcements are formal notices, not invitations. You may include an invitation with your announcement.
You should send announcements in enough time to arrive at their destination
at least two weeks prior to your ceremony. They come with inner and outer
envelopes. The outer envelope should be addressed formally (i.e. Mr.,
Mrs., Ms., with the full name spelled out). The inner envelope may be
addressed informally (e.g. Mom, Aunt Beatrice, Cuddlecakes, etc.). Etiquette
seals are used to seal the inner envelopes and are available in packs
of 25.
GRADUATION STOLES
Students also have the option of wearing a UC Berkeley stole to their
graduation ceremony. A length of satin with a special embroidered UCB
seal patch, the stole can be worn by any student to decorate the graduation
gown. The stole can be embroidered to indude the name of a fraternity/sorority,
student organization/dub, sports team, or with "Class of 2008"'.
Often they are given to the organization's seniors as a congratulatory
gift. They can also be worn unembroidered with just the patch. The stole
hangs around the back of the neck, with the two ends lying flat on the
chest. Because of the fine satin, the stole tends to slip during heavy
movement, so we recommend pinning the stole from the inside to the graduation
gown. Especially nice for graduation pictures and regal-looking when worn
in ceremony, the stole is available for purchase.
GRADUATION PACKAGES
Take care of all your graduation worries with one order! Grad
packs include everything you need for graduation. Order forms and samples
are in the Cal Student Store. Grad Packs are available starting February
2008.
** Prices subject to change. See the store or call about shipping
grad packs.
- Bachelor $175.00
- Master* $200.00
- Doctor * $205.00
- Gown (& Hood*) Rental
- Cap and Tassel
- 25 Personalized Announcements
- 25 Thank You Cards
- 25 Etiquette Seals
- Diploma Cover
- One Year Membership to California Alumni Association
- Bachelor $300.00
- Master* $325.00
- Doctor* $330.00
- JD/OD* $335.00
- Gown (& Hood*) Rental
- Cap and Tassel
- 25 Personalized Announcements
- 25 Thank You Cards
- 25 Etiquette Seals
- Deluxe Medallion Diploma Frame
- One Year Membership to California 0Alumni Association
GENERAL INFORMATION
Area hotels fill up in May. If you have family or friends coming to
your ceremony from out of town, suggest that they make reservations immediately.
For information about local accommodations, restaurants, and things to
do in Berkeley, refer to the Berkeley
Convention and Visitors Bureau and the
UCB Visitors Center.
HONORS CORDS: If you have written an Honors Thesis and are graduating with honors, you are eligible to wear an honors cord during the commencement ceremony. The honors cord is a double gold rope that hangs from your neck and dangles in front. Cords will be conferred at the Honors Recognition Dinner (students will be notified of the exact day and time via email).
HOODS: Masters and Doctoral students may rent hoods to wear during the ceremony. A hood is a cowl-type decoration worn around the neck that hangs down the back. There is a velveteen strip of material that reflects the degree and the inside opens up to satin which reflects the institution where the degree was conferred. The hood should be worn such that, from the front, the satin is on bottom and the velveteen is on top, closest to the head. Here are some color examples. Please see the store for more color identities.
- Master of Science   --   Gold
- Master of Engineering   --   Orange
- Master of Arts   --   White
- MBA   --   Beige
- Ph.D.  --   Royal Blue
- EDD   --   Light Blue
- DPH   --   Salmon
- JD   --   Purple
The store orders hoods based on the department's estimates of graduates. Please know the exact title of your degree prior to rental. Students have mistaken their degree titles and ended up in the ceremony wearing a hood color different from their classmates. For example, a Masters OF Engineering is different from a Masters of Science IN Engineering. Not all Doctor degrees are a Ph.D. However, a Ph.D. is universal, so a Ph.D. in Education will have the same color as a Ph.D. in MCB.
If you already have a graduate degree, it is not proper to wear two hoods, or to wear a hood of an already conferred degree while receiving another. If you plan on teaching and will later attend ceremonies as a faculty member, you should wear the hood reflecting the highest degree earned or if two equal degrees, choose one.
You can also purchase your graduation gown and hood. Velvet Ph.D hoods and tarns (in blue or black) are available at the store for immediate purchase, and you can order custom gowns. We guarantee gowns will arrive in time for May ceremonies if ordered by March. Tailor made gowns take approximately 6-8 weeks. Any customers ordering custom made gowns later than 6-8 weeks before the ceremony will receive free rental regalia. Purchasing custom regalia is highly recommended for graduate who continue in education, e.g. teaching, and who will participate in graduation ceremonies as a professor in the future. Please stop by the Cal Student Store for more details or to have measurements taken.
GRAD FAIR! April 2008 (TBA). Order grad packs, gown rentals, and announcements, received information about rings, yearbooks, Alumni Association membership, and post-graduation planning with the Career Center and Kaplan testing services. Come and enter for a chance to win prizes!
FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL (510) 642-9000, x681 OR GO TO THE GRADUATION DEPARTMENT OF THE CAL STUDENT STORE. A COMPLETE LIST OF CEREMONIES IS AVAILABLE IN THE STORE.
CONGRATULATIONS!
