The wearing of caps, gowns and hoods at college and university functions dates to the Middle Ages when they were worn by monks and students in order to keep warm in damp and drafty 12th-century castles and halls of learning. Through the years, the style and color of caps, gowns and hoods have come to represent certain exact meanings. The following descriptions apply to current American usage. A number of variations are represented in the regalia worn by those who received degrees from non-American institutions. Gowns for bachelor's and master's degrees have semi-stiff yokes, long pleated fronts and may have intricate shirring across the shoulders and backs.

Gowns for the doctoral degree have long velvet panels down the front and three velvet bars on the bell-shaped sleeve. This velvet trimming may be either black or the color distinctive of the field of learning to which the degree pertains. Shenandoah has distinctive doctoral robes that were designed with President Fitzsimmons’ regalia in mind; both are a rich red with deep navy trim and the Shenandoah seal embroidered in gold on the front. Shenandoah University school colors line the academic hood.

Caps may be of serge, broadcloth, cotton, rayon, silk or—for the doctoral regalia only—of velvet. The tassel of the doctoral cap may be of gold thread. Caps are normally mortarboard in form, although square-topped caps are traditional for certain universities.

The hood carries the heaviest symbolic burden. The hood indicates the level of the degree, the discipline and the institution which awarded it. The level of the degree is shown by the size of the hood, the width of the velvet trimming and—in the case of doctoral degree—by the shape. Master’s hoods are three and one-half feet long; doctoral hoods are four feet long.

The color of the trim identifies the discipline of the degree. For example, doctorates in Arts, Letters and Humanities are white. Education is light blue. Fine Arts is brown. Music is pink. Nursing is apricot.

The institution that awarded the degree is shown by the hood’s lining. Because there are so many universities and a limited number of colors, many schools use multiple colors on the lining of the hood, often with the contrasting color in the shape of a chevron.

Shenandoah University’s colors are blue and red. Faculty who have served 20 years or more wear a red and blue shoulder cord on their regalia.