What's your opinion on mortarboards?

I am sorely disappointed that motarboards are not part of the degree ceremony and am contemplating not attending a ceremony.. I was as proud as punch when my son got his degree at Canterbury Cathedral wearing his mortarboard and having the tassel moved from one side to the other. WHY can't we be accorded the same privilege!!! if our degree is as good or better than one from a standard University.

You can wear your own for the photos, but not for the graduation presentation. So if it is important for postirity, go ahead, wear yours for the photo.

Hope this compromise helps.

Bill.

Why on earth should anyone want to wear a mortarboard on their head? I've used one on and off for a good bit of my working life; the real thing, for bricklaying/masonry. We call it a spot board.

Oh! You mean the other sort. Bill Headdon

In my opinion, it is showing a long traditional and familiar with academic graduations. Necessarily!

I am so disappointed we can't have mortarboards and you need to change your minds, it is the best bit!!! i will feel so proud on that day and as my mum can't now be there to see it, that was the next best bit for me. I guess i will go with the compromise and wear them for photos only.

Jennifer, Holmfirth

My Nan has a picture of my cousin getting his degree on her mantle, what's she gonna put up for me then? A picture of me in jeans t shirt in a car park somewhere??!! It's not on!

I would hate to wear a mortarboard they are awful. I certainly would not be getting any photos taken with them on. If it became compulsory to wear one then I doubt that I would even bother with robes, as you do not have to wear robes for graduation.
My husband graduated from a very traditional university and there were no mortarboards. Cerainly not all red brick universities have them.
It appears to be the more modern universities that are using them and are that they are trying/pretending to be more traditional or formal.

Yes, I agree with wearing mortarboards. The robes and mortarboards are very much a part of the degree itself. We all study for years to qualify, and during that time there is a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and any number of other emotions too. But we keep going because of that mental image of ourselves wearing that gown and mortarboard. We deserve to wear it. We've earned it! Being OU or traditional brick isn't important. Our qualifications have the same value. But the value of wearing the gown and mortarboard, even if just for the one day and the one event, and having that photo, is unique and cannot be calculated. It is an honour and a unique and significant emblem of the many years and hours of hard toil that we set aside for the honour and privilege of wearing them. The decision of whether to wear or not to wear the gown or mortarboard should be our our right, and should not be made by anyone else. Whether or not we are allowed to wear the mortarboard in the ceremony or not, I will still be having the mortarboard, even if I only get to wear it for the photos. No-one is going to take that away from me.

The OU has this just about right. Without the universal encumbrance of mortar boards during the ceremony, those who wish to wear a mortar board for photographs, socialising etc may do so. Something for everyone!
Arthur Newton

They are absolutely essential if you are doing any plastering, otherwise your plaster, which should be on the wall, ends up all over the floor!

I've found a page on wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortarboard - which may hold some clues... and I guess if there are foundations in religion, I personally would not want to wear one.

Well, Bristol University, one of the top 10 in the country, doesn't have them either, so we're in good company. I went to my son's ceremony there and it was amazing, certainly didn't miss the mortar boards.

They say it's because when they first allowed women in, the lads all threw their mortar boards at them. Not true, just a local legend, but quite funny.

I loved my degree ceremony, it was very well done and my family and I were well looked after. It was a special day. I think you need some pomp and ceremony but mortar boards are not essential.

The Motarboard may add to an old fashioned concept of the Degree Ceremony. However unless your hair is receeding or are bald it seems to me of no benifit to the recipient.

Douglas E Walker

I was very disappointed not to wear a mortarboard at my graduation in 2001, it would have been a privilege to wear the full attire especially for the photographs.
Some people may have a different view to this so maybe it could be made optional.

David Smith

I agree with Karen. I live in Geneva and graduated in 1995. I asked for a ceremony in London where what was left of my family lived. They refused and gave me Paris which cost far more (no easyJet direct at that time), so I couldn't go at all. I was horribly disappointed, not so much from the point of view of the ceremony, but from that of the Graduation Photo. No mortar board, no glory!

The solution is simple if the official photographers are still present - they just need to have a few sizes of mortarboard available in their studios.

I graduated this year (OU) without mortarboard.

My two sons also graduated this year and they both wore mortarboards. Whilst I was at their two ceremonies I specifically asked my sons and other students, at Surrey University and at Exeter University, if they preferred hat or no hat. 100% said they were glad to have the chance to wear the 'funny hat'. They said it was all part of the occasion and from my POV my son's commemorative pictures look far better my own.
IMHO there are some belligerently scruffy folks at the OU and good luck to them - but please don’t let them spoil the sense of occasion for future students.

(Oh! And please return the logo back to its proper world renowned yellow and blue colours while you are at it. )

As an E year student I feel that a world leading University should set the trends for modern distance learning and this should follow through to the academic dess. The early students decided mortar boards were out dated mode of academic dress and we should continue what the founding students decided. NO MORTAR BOARDS.

I will be as proud as I can possibly be when I get to wear the gown accompanied by a 'proper' mortar board in April 2010. At long last, I will prove that I too am as brainy as the rest of them. The mortar board will make me look as brainy as my award recognises that I am.

Come on OU, change your rules. We now have NUS cards like other students - now let's look like other universities' graduates too.

Yes!
After all we earned it. those who say no do not have to take part!

Peter B

Both my children graduated from leading British universities during the course of my studies. After both graduation ceremonies I was tempted to try on their mortarboards but something held me back - call it superstition. I thought I would wait until I had earned my own. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that I was destined not to wear one at my own degree ceremony! I think they are a good idea because they add to the sense of occasion - and what's wrong with a bit of tradition?

I feel that certain head-dress is the finishing touch to the outfit/uniform of any special ceremony.
A mortarboard is one of these.
What's next?
No gown either?
Jeans and T-Shirt will do?

Keep the mortar boards. They're all part of the pageant.

After attending a degree ceremony at the Barbican Centre some time ago, although the mortar board is not part of OU academic dress for graduation and it would have put the icing on the cake, I think the emphasis should be on the day as awhole and not what I would consider a fairly minor detail.

I enjoyed my graduation day without the added prop of an outdated piece of headgear. Photos lovingly taken by wife and sister couldn't have been improved simply by adding a hat, even though it would have covered my rather shiny head! I'm proud to be part of the OU with its image as a modern, groundbreaking university and want the quality of its educational values to speak louder than pomp and tradition.

I was disappointed not to wear a mortar board at my OU degree ceremony. When I graduated from Kent they were part of the dress. With a very girlie throw I launched mine into the air and nearly had someone's eye out! Happy days!

I didn't attend a degree ceremony, the idea of parading about to show how clever I was seemed rather silly. So in my view the use of motarboards takes the whole thing to complete farce.

Its a rite of passage, wearing a mortarboard. Don't get me wrong, tradition for traditions sake can get in the way sometimes, but I like the formality and history of the academic dress. I think we sometimes want to sweep away too many things to satisfy the 'now' and that is how culture and respect are lost.
Having sweated to hold down full time employment, missed summer holidays with the family and watched the family make many sacrifices to enable me to study, the day with all its pomp and circumstance is for them as well.
I also think its important not to be too different from other Universities, employment is tough at the best of times and if one is identified as having attended an institution with values to far from those of the mainstream, an employer my ask, 'will this person really fit in'.
Mortarboards every time

I am also disappointed that mortarboards are not part of the degree ceremony; I was expecting to wear one on the day. As for being able to wear them for photos and celebrating, that is fine but they are not included in the gown hire arrangements. The process of booking your ceremony and gown was long winded, frustrating and expensive; I would not wish to add to this by having to get a mortarboard separately which I then could not wear all day!

I think they are flat