Bookstore to handle caps and gowns
Bookstore graduation gowns are not made of paper.
David Hansen, director of the Utah State University Bookstore was eager to dispel any myths about this year’s new graduation gowns available through the bookstore.
“The whole idea behind this was to make it easier for the students while at the same time making sure all of the university’s graduates look really nice,” Hansen said.
“Most universities now do go through their bookstores,” said Lori Kano, the bookstore’s gift and clothing buyer/manager. “It’s more of a retail-type thing so they handed it over to us.”
The caps and gowns used to be handled by the university’s development office. The university had to hire people to organize the gown rental process and make sure they were all delivered, returned and cleaned before being put into storage, Kano said.
Hansen said that students previously had to walk down to the Spectrum to get their caps and gowns. Having the bookstore handle the process moves it to a more centralized location.
Also, in previous years the university rented the gowns. Immediately after the ceremony, graduates had to check their gowns back in. With the regalia the bookstore will be providing this year, students get to keep their gowns.
“We found out that for $1.99 more we could do a keeper gown,” Kano said.
Hansen said, “You pick your gown up, then there is no return necessary.”
The caps and gowns will be supplied by Jostens, a company that for seven years has been doing graduation material for most of the high schools and universities in the state, including Weber State University and the University of Utah, Kano said.
“They have experience with universities and know the differences in our needs,” said Valerie Clinger, a management intern at the bookstore.
The gowns are made of fabric and there are three different designs, one for each a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree. The master’s and doctorate gowns come with a hood that the graduates can also keep along with the rest of the gown. The color of the tassels and hoods will match and depend on the color of each college.
Kano wanted to clarify any misunderstandings about the quality of the gowns.
“There have been some rumors flying around that we were going to be selling people paper gowns,” she said.
The rumors are definitely not true, she said.
“I think it will actually look sharper,” Kano said.
Clinger also said that with rental gowns the colors weren’t exactly uniform, because some are older and more faded than others.
According to a pamphlet mailed to all students who graduated during Summer or Fall Semester 2003 and those who will graduate this spring, students who order their caps and gowns by the end of January will get $10 off the regular price, paying only $26.99 instead of $36.99. The prices are a little bit higher for master’s and doctorate students who respectively pay $31.99 and $41.99 for the early bird special and $41.99 and $51.99 regular price.
According to the pamphlet, those who order early will be able to pick up their graduation material at the Graduation Fair, which will take place on March 17 and 18 in the Taggart Student Center Ballroom.
“We are trying to take [care] of this early because when you’ve got papers and finals to do, the last thing you need to worry about is your cap and gown,” Kano said.
Also, early delivery will give students plenty of time to make sure everything fits right and take pictures, luxuries not available to students when the gowns were rented instead of bought.
All additional graduation material is available through the bookstore and can be picked up at the fair, including souvenir tassels, class rings, generic or personalized invitations, and other graduation-related memorabilia.
“We want it to be a one-stop thing,” Hansen said.
A later deadline and date of delivery will be established for those who don’t participate in the early bird sale.
“Money from the caps and gowns was traditionally given to a scholarship fund,” Kano said. “We also agreed that there still will be $10,000 per year given to the general scholarship fund from the sale of caps and gowns.”
Kano said that the professors will still be using rental gowns in the commencement ceremony.
“We’ve had a great response, everybody is really happy,” Kano said. “We’re really trying to make this as easy as possible for the students.”
Students may obtain additional information and fill out order forms at the south side of the bookstore or call 797-1639 or 797-8202. Orders will be taken over the phone as well.
-sjeppesen@cc.usu.edu