Medieval Connections 7/9/22
The University of Bologna in Bologna, Italy, which was established in 1088, is recognized as the oldest university in the world and the predecessor to the modern university. Bologna’s structural organization and faculty governance became a model for other universities that followed, including Oxford University (1096), the University of Salamanca (1134), the University of Paris (1160), the University of Cambridge (1209)…. and on through to the present.
While you may not recognize the University of Bologna by name, you most probably will recognize some of the many very accomplished and notable graduates: Nicolaus Copernicus, Luigi Galvani, Guglielmo Marconi, Carlo Rovelli, Enzo Farrari, and Liliana Cavani. The phrase “alma mater,” meaning “nourishing mother,” was first used as a reference to the University of Bologna. Sue and I found the university in nondescript buildings when we toured Italy in 2015. A bust of Copernicus occupied the outer lobby of the library.
Academic dress also had medieval origins. Most early universities were affiliated with the Catholic Church. Many of those who taught in them were priests, monks and clerics, and the students were mainly studying to enter those roles. So it was common for early academics and students to wear clerical robes and hoods, especially to keep warm in unheated medieval buildings. The robes and hoods became a type of academic uniform, especially after colors appeared on hoods in the 15th century to communicate affiliations. Caps and mortarboards also were adopted during that period, supposedly because they created a holy appearance.
Today, academic regalia is purely ceremonial. Robes, hoods, and caps can differ in design, color, and accessories (e.g., medallions, sash, cords) to designate the institution, academic area, highest degree earned, honors and position (e.g., dean, president, grand marshal) based on standards first set in 1894 by the American Intercollegiate Commission and since modified. St. Andrews University in Scotland is credited with making many medieval components part of graduation ceremonies starting in the mid-1400s (e.g., faculty processions, grand marshal, ceremonial mace, gonfalons).
So, what typically happens to a faculty member's academic regalia after they retire? Some faculty simply let it continue to hang in a closet. Others pass their regalia onto a graduating doctoral student (which is what I did with my first robe) or incoming faculty. A number sell their regalia, for example via eBay. And others donate their regalia to a "regalia closet" - a collection of regalia within a college or department from which faculty, guest speakers and/or students can borrow regalia for graduation ceremonies. The College of Education at Penn State has had a regalia closet for at least 40 years. But cream and crimson, the colors on my hood and robe, are definitely not Penn State's colors. I recently donated my regalia to a startup regalia closet for graduating graduate students in the School of Education at Indiana University (my graduate alma mater) being organized by Dr. Sarah Theule Lubienski, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies.
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