GU board members get new ceremonial robes

Published: June 03, 2025

Author: Dave Bell

After 50 years of use, the heavy ceremonial robes worn by the Greenville University Board of Trustees had become threadbare, too fragile to withstand dry cleaning, and showed their age.

“It was time,” said Board Chair Jerry Hood. “Our old robes held up well for a long time, but they were made of super-heavy material, which made them very hot, and many needed repairs.”

In contrast, the board’s new microfiber robes – worn for the first time at this spring’s Commencement ceremonies – are much lighter and significantly cooler. Each board member was fitted with a new robe, ensuring that the size, sleeve length, and overall length were tailored to them.

The black robes are trimmed in orange and feature four horizontal bars on the sleeves, two embroidered Greenville University seals on the upper front, and a V-shaped neckpiece that extends over the shoulders and down the back, resembling the hood of a graduate with an advanced degree. The hats are black, round, and flat.

Each board member paid for their robe, so there was no financial impact on the University for the upgrade.

“The new robes are a big improvement over the old ones,” Hood said. “They look better, and they should be a lot more comfortable for the board members to wear.”