College of Our Lady of the Elms

At Elms College (College of Our Lady of the Elms), commencement is held annually (e.g., May 16, 2026, per the Elms Commencement site). For commencement, undergraduates and graduates robe in academic gowns, and are instructed to pick up their cap, gown, and hood from the campus bookstore in advance. The student handbook confirms that the bookstore arranges regalia orders, and students must provide their height, weight, and whether they are earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

Unlike many colleges, Elms’s caps are optional in certain ceremonies: for example, at the Baccalaureate Mass and Blessing of the Hoods, graduates carry their hoods instead of wearing caps. There is a Graduate Hooding Ceremony for master’s students, where participating graduates wear their gowns and carry their hoods, but do not wear caps.

Regarding honor cords and stoles, Elms College’s catalog and student handbook note that undergraduates who graduate with academic honors receive honor cords: Honors for GPA 3.5–3.79, High Honors for GPA ≥ 3.8. Students may also wear co‑curricular stoles to represent organizations, clubs, or international affiliations — but only one stole is allowed per student at commencement. If students want a non‑standard stole, they must apply by early April; a committee reviews all stole applications.

Elms’s official policy also regulates cap decorations: only flat decorations on the mortarboard are allowed (≤ 1 inch tall), no noisy objects, no illuminated or lewd material, no profanity, etc.

On faculty regalia, Elms requires full academic gowns and hoods; at the Baccalaureate Mass, faculty wear full regalia while students carry hoods.

In summary, Elms College’s commencement and academic regalia emphasize tradition, dignity, and flexibility: students wear classic gowns, carry hoods in their discipline color, wear cords for academic honors, and may don a single organization or co‑curricular stole, while faculty wear full academic regalia.

Elms College Academic Regalia – Graduation Cap, Gown & Hood

Official academic regalia set for Elms College graduates: includes mortarboard cap, black gown, and hood in program‑specific color.

Regalia Set: Cap, gown, and hood ordered from Elms Bookstore; size based on degree type and student measurements.
Tassel & Cords: Honor cords available for undergraduates achieving Honors or High Honors; no fixed tassel color policy listed.
Stole Policy: One organization- or country-themed stole permitted; custom stoles require application by April 1.
Cap Decor Rules: Decorations must be flat, ≤ 1″, non‑illuminated, and appropriate for commencement.
Hooding Ceremony: Master’s graduates carry their hoods in a special ceremony without caps.
Faculty Dress: Professors wear full academic gowns and colored hoods based on academic field.

This regalia set reflects Elms College tradition and respect for academic excellence — ideal for your graduation day.

Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at College of Our Lady of the Elms, you can reach out directly to the college's administration or the office responsible for commencement and student services. They can provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding academic regalia.