• Section 1 - Purpose
• Section 2 - Scope
• Section 3 - Authority
• Section 4 - Guideline

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) This guideline defines the use of academic dress when participating in official RMIT ceremonies and processions, and when representing RMIT at other approved events.

(2) These guidelines support the Academic Dress Regulations and the Conferral and Graduation Policy and Conferral and Graduation Procedure.

Section 2 - Scope

(3) These guidelines apply to RMIT staff, alumni and graduands participating in official occasions that require academic dress.

Section 3 - Authority

(4) Authority for this document is established by the Conferral and Graduation Policy.

Section 4 - Guideline

(5) Academic dress, as determined by discipline, is worn by participants at official RMIT ceremonies and processions and approved external events as determined by RMIT University Council (Council).

(6) When participating in official RMIT ceremonies and processions, academic dress is worn by:

1. the Chancellor and Members of Council
2. staff and graduands
3. alumni of RMIT
4. official representatives of other institutions or external bodies who are formally invited to participate.

(7) Participants of academic ceremonies who do not have a higher education or vocational education and training qualification wear plain black gowns and black cloth trencher caps.

(8) Academic dress is supplied without charge to the following participants who do not have their own academic dress:

1. Members of Council, staff and alumni who are participating in official RMIT ceremonies
2. Representatives of RMIT Student Union (RUSU), Student Union Council, and the RMIT Postgraduate Association members who are participating in official RMIT ceremonies
3. Council and staff who are required to represent RMIT at approved external occasions.

(9) Academic dress may be hired from ARG, Completions and Graduations by:

1. graduands attending and receiving awards at conferring ceremonies
2. graduands, alumni, staff and members of Council attending approved external ceremonies
3. external bodies who require the use of common items of dress to augment their own stocks for specific ceremonial purposes.

(10) The fees for hiring academic dress are prescribed in the Approved Schedule of Fees and Charges, advised to participants with ceremony details, and published online.

(11) Applications for the use of academic dress by external bodies should be made in writing to the ARG, Completions and Graduations.

(12) Academic dress of other institutions may be worn by alumni of those institutions. Individuals are responsible for providing their own academic dress appropriate to their award; or may hire the RMIT academic dress which corresponds most closely to their award.