Biological sciences major Taj Badail, center, doesn't have his doctorate yet, but he's modeling the new doctoral gown, flanked by his friends Dev Dhillon, left, and Pradeep D'Souza, both majoring in ...

Nowadays, with many more people pursuing higher education, having to wear a cap, gown and hood can be seen as a drag — especially at a ceremony that’s often outdoors in hot weather. But the uniform ...