What's your opinion on mortarboards?

Like many others, I am disappointed that I won't get to wear a mortarboard when I graduate. My two sisters wore them at their graduation from brick universities, and I want to show the world that my degree and graduation is just as important as theirs! I do agree, that to some extent, not having the same regalia/formality as other unis at graduation, may reinforce the perception that an OU degree is not 'proper'!

It may seem silly to some, but many people really look forward to that moment of wearing the mortarboard and throwing it up in the air at the end of all the years of long hard slog. It is the image that leaps to mind when one thinks of graduating. I think that the people who think mortarboards are outdated, silly etc. are probably the sort who don't like formal ceremonies of any sort. In which case they needn't attend the graduation ceremony at all. My yougest sister was thrilled with her very formal graduation ceremony, but her best friend didn't like the whole idea, and chose not to bother with it.

As for mortarboards 'messing your hair up' - !!!! I can't believe the comment in the article - "Why people, especially women, would WANT to wear a mortarboard I cannot imagine. It's practically impossible to achieve a hairstyle that still looks good with the board."
I think this is very trite, and patronising to women. Anyway for that person's information, both my sisters looked stunning in their gowns and mortarboards, not a hair out of place!

I hope the OU changes its mind on this issue, it's obviously really important to a great number of OU students.

Mortarboards are an essential part of dressing up for the degree ceremony and I was very disappointed to find they can’t be worn. The OU is different because it allows students to study from anywhere, when it suits them, not because of a lower standard, so why should the degree ceremony have lower standards. If the OU wants to be different why not disappoint everyone and just send a typed letter saying you passed!

I am one of the students who is extremely disappointed that when I graduate (hopefully Summer 2009)I will not be wearing a mortarboard. One comment contains the suggestion that mortarboards at ceremonies should be optional - seems like a great idea.

I agree with Karen's comments regarding us being treated differently, many of us need to work and earn a living and fit studies round our life instead of living off the bank of mum and dad for three years and flitting off round the world backpacking to 'find ourselves' so we should be entitled to wear the mortarboard, the fees are high enough, however mortarboards are just like the top hat used at weddings, that more often sit under the arm of the groom, best man and other poor so and so's who have been badgered into wearing them - look nice, impractical, never to be worn again - LET'S WEAR THEM (mortarboards not top hats)

I agree with the other comments 'for' mortarboards. I will feel short-changed if I don't have the opportunity to wear one at my degree ceremony. It will feel as though I haven't properly graduated, and I will forever be left explaining to people who see my graduation ceremony photograph that 'yes, it IS a proper degree!'. I would consider hiring one for my photograph but would always know in the back of my mind that I didn't get to wear it during the actual ceremony, so the photo is 'fake'.

Come on OU, give us students the choice. I see that staff made the decision not to use them, but where was the consultation with us?!

I felt very short changed that the OU do not wear mortarboards for graduation, in my opinion it is all part of the experience, in the end I decided not to attend my graduation and the motarboard situation was one of the factors that turned me against attending.

I think they are part and parcel of the whole graduation thing, I wouldnt want to graduate without them. Why are our traditions constantly being demolished???

It is a massive diappointment that after waiting for so many years for the opportunity to study for a degree that when we finally graduate, the traditional regalia is missing. I know that it is old fashioned (not to mention expensive to hire) but surely the change to wear the tradional dress is a part of feeling proud of your achievement that as OU students we have all worked so hard, and through so many obstacles for.

I'm not actually aiming for a degree from the OU, but not wearing a mortarboard for the graduation ceremony may actually confirm in the minds of many that a degree from the OU isn't a 'real' degree.

I'm probably in a minority here but I am very glad the OU doesn't have mortarboards. For my PGCE ceremony not one I tried on fitted properly and it was a difficult balancing act try to keep the wretched thing on and maintain some sort of dignity walking across the stage. At the end of the day it is the qualification that counts.

My daughter works in admin at another university and at graduation ceremonies, all staff are expected to wear robes and mortarboards. My daughter hates mortar boards as they just don't stay put, but she's allergic to wool, so she's been excused. It had never occurred to me that they were covered in wool!

When I got my first degree at an ordinary university back in 1975 none of us graduating wore mortar boards, neither did any of my siblings at any of their universities so it is not, in my limited experience, a 'norm' for academic dress so why wear one?

I am SO glad they are not part of the graduation.

I have to admit that I am not bothered about ceremonies and would just like my certificate without all the fuss to be honest, but i can understand traditionalists who want their ceremony especially after all that hard work. So for those who want it I say go for it!, and for the rest us who shy away from these sort of things i say just give me my bit of paper please and i will be over the moon.

Regards to all and good luck to all

Ray Packham

I think we should wear them as we want to as we will only get to have the excitement of the ceremony once in our lives, unless of course you study for another degree. But as the majority of people im sure just get one degree, you will only attend one ceremony ever so I certainly have no problem of dressing up for it, good fun it seems!

I have been awarded two honours degrees from the OU and have never attended a degree ceremony. The idea of dressing up as Batman just to be given a piece of paper strikes me as rather ludicrous.

Someone earlier in this thread wrote that they thought they were entitled to one day of excitement in their lives. Can I make a suggestion? Try painting something then watching it dry!

I truly believe that if someone thinks that a picture of themselves in a gown and mortarboard hat on their mantlepiece is their objective of getting an OU degree, then they have learnt very little.

Bizarrely, as males, it was the correct thing to carry our mortarboards under the arm at the ceremony, even shaking hands with the chancellor, females had to wear them.

The only time I wore it was for the picture, and I had to keep my head still because it just wobbled on top.

I think it's good for the final grad picture though.

I disagree with all those who consider attending the degree ceremony a waste of time.
I am very disappointed not to be wearing a mortar board when I attend the ceremony next year. I will be taking my 11 year old daughter with me, to show her what she could accomplish.My daughter expected me to have a mortar board, and is a little disappointed that I wont look silly!
I have worked very hard to obtain my degree and, although I realise it is not 'important' I consider it to be more of a right of passage.

I am currently doing my MSc in Computing for Commerce and industry with the OU and I am the second generation in my family - my parents both received their first degrees from the OU, but 15 years ago I was a newly graduated BA student at Bristol, and we didn't get mortarboards for that ceremony either. They simply didn't do them. You only got a "hat" of any kind for higher degrees like Masters or PhDs and even then those were some kind of floppy cloth cap affair.

Having sampled both sides of the coin its not really anything to do with quality in my view. When I (hopefully) get to the end of this I will be first in line for robes and photos again you can be assured.

So mortarboard shmortaboards in my opinion. Be proud of you achievement no matter what you are dressed in.

I was looking forward to being able to wear a mortarboard as my brother did when he graduated from Southampton University. My mum has already asked whether or not mine is a 'proper' degree. I don't mind the idea of being progressive or it being something for the future but for some people maintaining the tradition is something they look forward too. I respect the fact some people don't want the formality of a ceremony, but many do otherwise all the venues would not be fully booked each year - it is an opportunity for those who want to celebrate their achievements with family and friends.

What strikes me as odd is that the head of awards and ceremonies, Tony Barker, states that the mortarboard forms part of OU's academic dress but then the OU are depriving students of the honour of wearing one item that is part of the academic dress. his to me seems like a very wishy washy policy that is neither one thing or the other. If it is part of the OU academic dress then let your students wear it with pride.

Personally I won't be wearing a mortar board becuase I don't think it would suit me - even if I could find one large enough.

However if a student has forked out untold dosh to the O U and put in what often seems like endless graft in order to obtain a qualification then I fail to see why the organisation to whom they have forked out that dosh should deny them the right to wear a perfectly reasonable if somewhat old-fashioned piece of headgear.

If i'm ever lucky enough to get a degree it will be reward enough without feeling any need to parade around in front of others showing off about it.
i agree with the person who said "... if someone thinks that a picture of themselves in a gown and mortarboard hat on their mantlepiece is their objective of getting an OU degree, then they have learnt very little."
It's just not that important whether you're wearing a mortarboard or not for that 2 minutes of your life ...for sure, if people want a photo wearing one there's no reason why they shouldn't, but then it's still 'just a photo', it isn't about all the hard work and effort that went into graduating. The reward of getting a degree is the degree itself, the lifelong knowledge, the learning how to learn... and possibly career progression or other benefits. There's no need to or benefit from dressing up and prancing about in front of strangers, showing off..

**if someone thinks that a picture of themselves in a gown and mortarboard hat on their mantlepiece is their objective of getting an OU degree, then they have learnt very little**

That's not really the point nor the objective. It's more tradition and after all those years of hard work you have one day to celebrate that, cap and gown is part of that (for the majority of people) one special day.

"There's no need to or benefit from dressing up and prancing about in front of strangers, showing off.. "

Nor is there any need to denegrate fellow students who are merely accepting awards at a ceremony.

More generally I'm slightly suprised that some of the comments on this thread are considered acceptable by the Platform Moderators. They certainly wouldn't be allowed on most OUSA First Class Forums!

@TheHumbleOne We find that the forums on Platform are generally self-moderating and that each new comment contributes a new angle/viewpoint to the debate. As formal moderators we'll step in if comments are abusive, racist or libellous but the idea on Platform is that people are free to express themselves without fear their comments will be pulled down at the slightest hint of controversy. That said, we encourage all Platformers to remain courteous to those who hold different opinions to their own.

Robyn (Platform team)

There is precious little courtesy displayed by many of the comments on this thread which seem more intent in pouring scorn upon those who quite innocently happen to fancy wearing mortars.

If people can't manage to be controversial or express their opinions strongly without being quite so rude then frankly I think they need a quiet word in their shell-like ears.

Perhaps there could be a few bob for the OU in providing a wee 10 pointer on writing message board posts - or indeed one on modding?

I quite agree TheHumbleOne. I have just completed a nursing degree at a brick university and had my graduation ceremony in July, complete with gown and mortarboard. My family were so proud. It's not the be-all and end-all of gaining a degree, but it brought home to me what I had achieved. I don't see a problem with keeping hold of some traditions.

I felt momentarily ashamed for enjoying the day and feeling proud when teiana accused the likes of me of "prancing about" and "showing off". Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but please don't make me feel so bad. If you don't want to celebrate getting your degree teiana, then don't attend the ceremony. Let everyone else enjoy themselves.

What I find amusing about teiana remarks is they haven't even got their degree yet, and their saying that we that have haven't learnt much.

I'm easily amused I know.

I liked my mortar board, didn't fit right on my head and wobbled. Also found myself swinging the tassels in front of my nose; OK childish too, it was a long time ago.

I was plaiting my tassels waiting for my name to be called, I was so nervous! So they do have a purpose! And that was only a couple of months ago! Had to do the obligatory "throw the mortar board in the air" pose for photo too. Made sure I caught it though; it was a rental!

Hmm, plaiting, wished I'd have thought of that. Now I feel as though I missed out.

And this

**and their saying that we that have haven't learnt much**

Should read:

**and their saying that we haven't learnt much**

Perhaps their right. Now I feel a fool again.