The answer is that here is no clear-cut precedent throughout the educational establishment for any of the honors items. They mean different things to many different people and in many different places. As a general rule, honors cords have historically represented membership in some kind of a society or club, most commonly an honors society. But on a college undergraduate level, they are often used today to designate a level of grade point average for the graduate, sometimes with different colors of cords indicating various levels of academic achievement.

What we have seen is a trend toward "dumbing down" the honors apparel. We know that there are a number of high schools who purchase honor cords for each student. Everyone wears them; they are merely a decoration. The same is true of the honors stole (also called a sash). Sometimes today everyone will wear a stole and those with some special honors may have theirs embroidered or printed, while the rest are plain. Some high schools award honors cords for "participation," with a given number of points for attendance at certain events. Obviously, in many cases the use of honors apparel has gone the way of much of the educational establishment!

People often say "What do you suggest?"

If you are planning a graduation for a home school group or a small school and there has never been a clear decision about what honors apparel may be worn, we suggest that you make a determination of what the various items mean within your establishment. Publish it in the program so that everyone knows what those items stand for, and then stick with it from year to year. Consistency is the important thing in a situation where there isn't really any "guidebook" to follow. If a family has a graduate one year who earns a level of distinction which is recognized at the ceremony, and then two years later, a younger sibling who has not achieved nearly the same level, is honored in the same way, confusion results. Those attending, and especially the students themselves, will feel that the honors are arbitrary.

The same is true of a single-family ceremony. Decide what you wish to honor your student for and then be consistent with the next graduate. Academic achievement does not have to be measured by grade point level --ACT or SAT scores could be used as a standard. Nor is academic achievement the only criterion. Parents might want to make it a part of the ceremony to award a stole, a medal, or set of cords in recognition of a particular character quality or achievement of excellence in an area of their son or daughter's life.

We suggest that you set standards are for achievement and honors, and then be consistent. We encourage you to set high standards and honor true excellence.

HOODING CEREMONY" How to Properly Wear the Academic Hood Now that you have earned your degree and the right to wear the proper academic hood, we want to be sure you wear it correctly.

1. The hood should be placed over your head so that it drapes off your shoulders and over the back of your gown. The velvet border should be on the outside as shown in the picture.
   
   
2. Be sure the lining of the hood is turned out so that the color(s) identifying the institution which conferred your degree are prominently displayed. This can be done by turning the velvet trim to the outside at the back just below your shoulders. The cord on the back of your hood will keep your hood in place.
   
   
3. A cord in the front of your hood is provided to keep the hood away from your neck. Fasten the cord to a shirt or dress button.
   
   
4. Make sure the black base (shell) of the hood is smoothed down and lays flat against the back of your robe.

Doctoral Hooding Instructions:

 
• Students will hand the hoods to a hooder.
• With the hooding strings ("loopcord" on the velvet portion of the hood, see image at right and above) DOWN, two faculty members will carefully place the hoods over the student's head, being careful not to dislodge caps.
• Next, the faculty members will quickly fluff out the colors on the back of the hood (see image below), and congratulate the student.



• Faculty members should be seated when all students have been hooded.
• For students attending without a faculty member: Hand your hood to one of the College Hooders who will place it over your head, fluff out the colors, and congratulate you.