At Georgia Southern University, commencement ceremonies require graduates to wear approved academic regalia: cap, gown, and tassel, reflecting a polished and unified graduation gown policy. In a major shift, as of Spring 2024, Georgia Southern unveiled custom-designed True Blue regalia: blue graduation gowns embroidered with the university seal, replacing older gowns to better reflect the institution’s heritage.

The mortarboard graduation cap is standard, and graduates carry tassels whose colors correspond to their field of study. Georgia Southern’s tassel-color guide maps each academic discipline / degree to a distinct hue — for example, Drab for business (MBA), Light Blue for education, Orange for engineering, and others.

For academic honors, Georgia Southern employs a blue-and-white honor cord, worn on the left shoulder of the gown for those graduating with distinction. Additionally, graduates may wear approved stoles or scarves associated with honor societies, fraternities/sororities, or departmental affiliations at commencement.

Faculty regalia and doctoral gowns also reflect the new blue-gown design, with subtle variations: according to program booklets, master’s, specialist, and doctoral gowns use a similar blue fabric, each with its own cut or trim. The presidential chain and medallion worn by the university president during the processional reinforce the ceremonial tradition.

In terms of ceremony rules, undergraduates are instructed to wear their tassels on the right side before the official tassel turn; when prompted, they move them to the left side during the ceremony. For graduate students, the tassel is worn on the left from the start. Dress code guidance also advises dark flat shoes and dark dresses or pants under the gown to maintain a formal and uniform appearance.

Georgia Southern University Commencement Regalia – Cap, Gown & Honor Accessories

Key Features

• True Blue graduation gown embroidered with Georgia Southern University seal — unified and professional academic regalia.
• Mortarboard cap to complete the graduation ensemble.
• Discipline-specific tassel colors based on the University's tassel color guide.
• Honor cords (blue, white, red) for students graduating with distinction.
• Optional approved stoles / scarves for honor societies, fraternities/sororities, or departmental organizations.
• Master’s and doctoral regalia share True Blue design, tailored with degree-level trims.
• Official ordering via Herff Jones, deadlines per Registrar’s schedule.

Details

Georgia Southern University’s commencement academic regalia is designed to reflect the school’s heritage and community pride. The custom True Blue gown aligns with the official brand colors and adds a distinctive visual identity. Tassels are color-coded by discipline so that each graduate’s field of study is shown. Honor graduates wear cords in blue, white, and red, while approved stoles and scarves allow individual distinction through societies or departments.

Faculty, master’s, and doctoral gowns follow the same blue scheme with design variations, promoting consistency across academic levels. To participate, graduates must order their regalia through Herff Jones by the Registrar’s cap and gown deadline. Dress code guidelines also encourage dark shoes and attire under the gown for the commencement ceremony.

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