Institute of American Indian Arts

The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) stages commencement ceremonies that blend academic tradition with Indigenous cultural expression. Graduates wear the classic graduation gown and mortarboard graduation cap, while many students also incorporate cultural regalia, tribal sashes, or artist stoles to reflect heritage and creative achievement. IAIA’s ceremony emphasizes dignity, artistic identity, and adherence to university regalia rules that require approved stoles and cords. Keywords: graduation gown, graduation cap, academic regalia, graduation gown color.

Undergraduate (bachelor’s) recipients typically wear a black gown paired with a mortarboard and a discipline-appropriate tassel. IAIA’s publicly available guidance does not publish a complete tassel color chart; however, honor cords and stoles are used to mark academic honors, community service, and special campus programs. Approved stoles often celebrate Indigenous identity or program affiliation, and honor cords denote levels of academic distinction. Keywords: cap, gown and tassels sets, honor cord, stoles color.

Master’s graduates usually wear velvet-edged hoods where the velvet trim denotes academic discipline and the lining indicates institutional identity. Faculty regalia follows standard academic convention: doctoral faculty wear black gowns with velvet panels and long hoods, while faculty with master’s degrees wear appropriate master’s gowns and hoods reflecting their highest earned degree. Keywords: faculty regalia, academic regalia, cap gown tassels set.

Because IAIA does not publish a full online regalia color chart, students should order regalia through IAIA’s approved vendors and verify tassel, hood, and stole colors with the Commencement Office to ensure compliance with both academic and cultural protocols.

IAIA Academic Regalia – Cap & Gown Set

Get your official Institute of American Indian Arts commencement regalia: black graduation gown, mortarboard cap, and tassel. Meets IAIA-approved regalia guidelines.

• Black Graduation Gown: Formal academic gown in traditional style.
• Mortarboard Cap: Standard square cap for graduates.
• Tassel: Basic tassel included; color verification recommended with IAIA.
• Honor Cords & Stoles: Only approved versions by IAIA allowed — often symbolic of cultural identity or academic achievement.
• Important: Always order through an IAIA-approved vendor and confirm your sash, cord, and tassel color with the Commencement Office.

Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at Institute of American Indian Arts, 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.