Gavilan College

Gavilan College (Gilroy, CA) holds an annual commencement ceremony for its graduates. For 2025, the ceremony is scheduled for May 23. Graduates must complete their petition for diploma or certificate and submit an RSVP by the deadlines to participate.

For the ceremony, Gavilan requires all participating students to wear full academic regalia — a graduation cap (mortarboard), graduation gown, and tassel. Caps, gowns, and tassels are available through the campus bookstore up until 2:00 pm on the day of commencement. (gavilan.edu ) The standard “graduate set” (cap, gown, tassel) price is listed; stoles are also stocked by the bookstore, with prices and styles varying.

For students with a strong academic record — specifically, those whose cumulative GPA is 3.5 or higher — Gavilan awards a gold Honors cord, which is distributed at ceremony check-in. This provides a visible distinction for honor‑eligible graduates.

Historical regalia documentation from Gavilan’s earlier commencement programs affirms traditional academic‑dress customs: mortarboard caps are the approved headgear; black tassels are generally worn on the left side of the cap. Graduates with academic honors wear gold cords; additional cords (e.g., for outstanding technical, vocational, or transfer awards) may be in different colors such as silver, according to older program notes.

As for faculty regalia or discipline‑specific hood or stole colors, Gavilan does not publicly provide a current detailed color‑chart linking academic disciplines to hood linings or velvet. The older regalia notes suggest hood linings reflect institutional or degree colors, but no modern publicly accessible chart exists for undergraduates.

In summary, Gavilan College’s commencement and academic regalia practices emphasize a standard black-style cap and gown set, a tassel, and — for qualifying students — a gold honors cord. Additional stoles or cords may be available via the bookstore, but discipline‑ or faculty‑level color schemes are not clearly documented in recent publicly available materials.

Gavilan College Academic Regalia — Cap, Gown & Honors Cord

Celebrate your academic achievement with the official Gavilan College graduation regalia set. Includes mortarboard cap, graduation gown, tassel — plus a gold honors cord for eligible graduates. Optional stoles are available through the bookstore.

Cap & Graduation Gown: Mortarboard cap and gown required for all Gavilan College commencement participants. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
Cap/Gown/Tassel Set: Complete regalia package available for purchase; or choose individual components (cap only, gown only, tassel only) if preferred. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
Gold Honors Cord: Awarded to graduates with cumulative GPA ≥ 3.5 at check‑in, marking academic excellence. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
Stoles / Optional Accessories: A variety of stoles with different styles/colors are available for purchase — perfect for honor societies, clubs or personal celebration. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
Tassel & Accessories Details: Tassel included in the standard regalia; past practice included black tassels for all and gold or platinum cords for honors and special awards. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}
Eligibility & Ordering: Regalia available to students who have petitioned for graduation and RSVP’d by deadlines — ensure you purchase before Convocation Day. :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}

Order your cap, gown and honors cord early to ensure availability before Commencement. Optional stoles and cords offer flexibility for student recognition and personal style.

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