Regalia

Regalia

Ordering your cap and gown

Graduation regalia, i.e., your cap and gown, are ordered from Herff-Jones – visit website for details. Graduation regalia are mailed directly to your home address with a lead time of approximately 25 days after the order is placed. 

Regalia for dual degrees

Students earning dual degrees should order one set of regalia, as academic attire is required for participation in the Commencement ceremony. Students will only cross the stage once and may wear only one tassel and one hood. For example, a student earning both a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) must choose whether to wear the apricot tassel/hood (MSN) or the tan tassel/hood (MBA). The Campus Store will sell additional tassels before Commencement, allowing students to purchase a second tassel in the color of their other degree. This provides a way to represent both degrees symbolically. 

Important: Do not order an extra tassel or a second cap and gown online. The regalia ordering system only allows selection of one degree. For additional tassels, please visit the Campus Store. 

How to wear your cap and gown

The cap should be worn flat on the top of the head. You may decorate your cap, but decoration must not include any inappropriate content.

As an associate or bachelor’s degree candidate, you wear your tassel on the right side. After your degree conferral is announced and all diploma covers are distributed during the Commencement ceremony, you will move the tassel to the left side of the cap.

As a master’s or doctoral degree candidate, you wear your tassel on the left side and it remains on the left side throughout the ceremony.

Appropriate attire for the ceremony

For undergraduate students, university-issued honor cords and the Stole of Gratitude should also be worn on top of your regalia. Business casual or formal dress is suggested to be worn under your regalia. Adornments such as corsages and pins are not traditionally worn. Signs or flags are not permitted to be carried or displayed by graduates. Caps or gowns decorated with inappropriate messages will not be permitted. We highly recommend wearing comfortable shoes as you will be walking in a procession and standing for a considerable amount of time. In Lisle, the procession is a considerable distance – about 0.3 miles from Kindlon Hall to the Rice Center.