The Graduation Ceremony and the Academic Tams

Universities nowadays try their very best in making their graduation ceremonies as close to its roots as possible, making sure that the traditions that enclose it are still intact and in observance to the norm. Keeping to the tradition is the key to a perfect and successful ceremony and when all the candidates’ academic tams are tossed in the air, it only proves that the ceremony has been a very joyous one. The importance of the graduation ceremony to the whole academe is actually immense and it should be realized by every member of the institution because this is, after all, what the academe is basically made of, this is one event that testifies to the success of the school’s mission and vision realized. This day will honor those who have successfully passed all the requirements of the candidate’s college and thus giving him or her diploma that he or she has been working and sacrificing for all these years. Since this ceremony is an age-old tradition with practices that originate from the very ancient times since the academic institution has been established, it must be observed with utmost solemnity and formality. Consequentially, every person participating in the event, candidate or not, is expected to be at their best.

The academic tams serve a great purpose during the span of the graduation ceremony; in fact the whole of the academic regalia is what completes the graduation puzzle. All the candidates for graduation must be oriented of the regalia and the fact this garb is required to worn by all of them on the day of the graduation. Some universities actually provide the supplier for this but there are also some universities that opt for independent choice. Since the burden is passed on to the candidates, they must be able to understand the immense importance of getting the right regalia for them.

As it was said, the regalia is the one thing that completes the occasion. The basic academic regalia consist of the gown, the hood, the cap and the tassel. All of these pieces should be together, fitted together and worn together. Every piece has a role to play during the ceremony; candidates will find this out during the rehearsals. Only privileged people are able to wear the regalia, namely the candidates and some members of the academe who have special academic recognition. Apart from these four pieces, there might be additives but it would usually be worn by those who are going to receive a special award upon graduating.

One of the practices that can be observed during the ceremony which utilizes on piece of the regalia is of course, the ever famous tossing of the academic tams which is really not part of the formal program but has been around for ages that most schools actually acknowledge it. There are many other practices within the ceremony which uses one or two of the pieces of the regalia. Every candidate must understand that there is so much preparation to attend to before the actual big day but the ceremony itself will be very rewarding, it will definitely pay off the efforts placed on the preparation alone.