Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) hosts two commencement ceremonies each academic year — one in spring (May) and another in fall (December) — with separate ceremonies organized by college. Graduates must attend Grad Fest, where they pick up their graduation gown, cap, tassel, hood, and other academic regalia from the on‑campus Barnes & Noble bookstore.

According to EKU’s catalog, students pay for their regalia (cap, tassel, hood, gown) when ordering from the bookstore. Undergraduates who earn Latin Honors (Cum Laude, Magna, Summa) are granted a complimentary honors stole (sash) available at Grad Fest. The Latin honors GPA thresholds at EKU are: Cum Laude (3.5–3.69), Magna Cum Laude (3.7–3.89), and Summa Cum Laude (3.9–4.0).

Regarding faculty and graduate academic regalia: faculty must provide their own academic gown, cap, and hood, as noted in EKU’s Faculty Resource Guide. For master’s and doctoral graduates, hoods are part of their regalia package, and the hood color varies by academic discipline. EKU does not centrally issue honor cords — honor society cords or stoles must come from the respective student organizations.

The university’s publicly available catalog does not clearly define a standard tassel color code by degree level or discipline, nor a full stole-color chart by academic department. The lack of detailed color‑by‑program regalia guidance publicly suggests that EKU relies in part on student organizations or honor societies for differentiated cord/stole colors, while maintaining a base academic‑regalia framework through the bookstore.

In summary, at Eastern Kentucky University, commencement is a formal procession structured around academic regalia: required cap, gown, tassel, and hood; honor stoles are provided for Latin Honors; honor cords/stoles are managed by student organizations; and faculty furnish their own regalia for ceremonial occasions.

Eastern Kentucky University Academic Regalia Kit

Get ready for your EKU commencement with this officially styled cap, gown & tassel set — plus optional honor stole or hood.

• Elegant academic graduation gown compatible with EKU’s commencement dress code
• Classic mortarboard‑style graduation cap
• Tassel included: Comes standard with EKU regalia orders via bookstore :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
• Latin Honors Stole: Maroon-and-white stole for undergraduates earning Cum, Magna or Summa honors :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
• Honor cord / stole: Optional — provided by recognized honor societies (not centrally issued by EKU) :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
• Graduate hood: For master’s/doctorate students; hoods are discipline-specific and ordered separately :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
• Multiple sizes ensure a proper fit for gowns and caps
• Purchase at EKU Grad Fest or via EKU Barnes & Noble Bookstore :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}

Order your EKU regalia kit today and celebrate your graduation with the dignity of full academic regalia — cap, gown, tassel, and honors accessory included.

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