The university requires the entire faculty to wear academic regalia for commencement exercises. The university purchases the apparel and it becomes the property of the faculty member after three consecutive years of service at Southern Adventist University (study leaves included). Should he/she leave the university before completing three years of consecutive service, he/she shall purchase his/her hood from the university at the unamortized price, and the cap and gown shall remain the property of the university unless the faculty member elects to acquire them for the unamortized portion of the cost. When the faculty member is close to completion of a higher degree, the university rents the regalia for him/her until he/she completes the advanced degree; then the university purchases the regalia for the advanced degree. The garb for a lower degree, if originally purchased by the university, shall become the property of the university upon purchase of regalia for a higher degree to replace it.