Des Moines University

Des Moines University (DMU), a health sciences university in Iowa, holds its annual commencement at Wells Fargo Arena, typically in late May. Graduates are required to wear full academic regalia: a graduation gown, cap, and tassel, with processional check‑in and designated seating for students.

DMU’s academic dress reflects its health science mission: in student and faculty photos, doctoral and master’s graduates wear black robes with dark green velvet trim (a common color for medicine) visible on gowns and hoods. While the university does not publicly post a comprehensive color chart for tassels or honor cords, evidence from its hooding traditions indicates degree-specific hood velvet: for example, the master of health sciences or anatomy has beige or gold velvet.

Regarding honor cords and stoles, DMU’s official commencement pages do not list a standard honor cord color system or broad stole program. There’s no mention on the DMU site of stoles for Latin honors or a universal honor society stole color. In DMU’s hooding tradition, students earn their hoods during a separate “surprise hooding” event, rather than using stoles.

Faculty regalia at DMU also follows traditional academic costume: faculty wear black gowns, and those with terminal health or doctoral degrees don robes with velvet trim consistent with their discipline. In photos, faculty hoods reflect DMU’s institutional colors (green and gold).

In summary, DMU’s graduation attire centers on classic black gowns, caps, and tassels, while using green velvet trim on graduate hoods to signify medical and health science disciplines. Honor regalia (cords or stoles) is not publicly standardized, meaning graduates should check with individual programs or departments for any approved honor adornments.

Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at Des Moines University, 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.