Deadline Nears For Discount On Graduation Caps And Gowns

Deadline Nears For Discount On Graduation Caps And Gowns

Graduating Utah State students who want a $10 discount on their commencement cap and gown have until Jan. 30 to contact the USU Bookstore to place their early orders. Students can place an order in person or by phone or mail.

The early-bird price is $26.99, and regular price after Jan. 30 is $36.99. This year all students, including graduate students, will purchase their caps and gowns, instead of renting them as in the past. This policy change was implemented for several reasons, according to Lori Cano, gift and clothing buyer for the Bookstore.

First and foremost, she said, the price to purchase the package is nearly the same as it was to rent the package in the past. The rental price in 2003 was $25, so students can now own their caps and gowns for only $1.99 more. The decision was based largely on convenience for students, Cano said.

They will have them well before graduation week, which means they will have one less thing to do during finals week when projects and final papers are also due. And they will not have to return rental clothing, another headache for some students who at that time are trying to move out of apartments, entertain family members visiting for graduation and get on with their lives.

"They will have one less thing to worry about for only $1.99 more," Cano said. "There are a lot of reasons why this makes sense. We had students complain in the past that they never took any good graduation pictures because they had to turn in their cap and gown. Now they can take them at their leisure."

The early deadline is a chance for students to save a little money, she said, but there will be other opportunities to ensure that every graduating student has their academic regalia come graduation day.

Graduate students will also purchase their hoods along with the cap and gown, and prices will be $31.99 for master's students and $41.99 for doctoral students, whose hoods are color coordinated to the college from which they graduate.

Cano said faculty will still be able to rent their regalia, and more information will be sent by mail to all faculty members as details are finalized.

All the arrangements are being handled by Jostens, a nationwide company with offices in Salt Lake City. Cano said Jostens coordinates gradation regalia for the University of Utah, Weber State University and almost every high school in the state.

"They have enormous experience, and they have been wonderful to work with," she said. "We got a great deal. We wanted really nice items and asked that they keep the price down, and we got both of those things."

Samples of all the items are available at the Bookstore if students want to see them.

Orders can be placed at the Bookstore or by phone at 1-800-662-3950 or 797-3950 with Visa, Master Card or Discover. Mail order with payment to USU Bookstore, Cap and Gown, 0200 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah 84322.

Pickup will be March 17-18 at the Graduation Fair in the Taggart Student Center Ballroom. Cano also said the Bookstore can mail the items to students who are not on campus or they can hold the items for pickup.