Mohawk Valley Community College

Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) in Utica, New York hosts formal commencement ceremonies each spring and in December to recognize students earning associate degrees and certificates. Eligible graduates must apply for graduation and RSVP to participate in the commencement event, which includes a processional, conferral of degrees, and celebratory recognition with faculty and family members. All participants in the ceremony wear official academic regalia that marks their achievement and respects academic tradition.

MVCC provides graduating students with a cap, gown, and tassel set at no cost at the College Store. Graduates collect their graduation gown — typically in MVCC’s school colors — along with a coordinating mortarboard graduation cap and colored tassel. Students wear tassels on the right side before the conferral of degrees and move them to the left once degrees are conferred, symbolizing the transition from candidate to graduate.

In addition to the standard cap, gown, and tassels, MVCC uses academic tassel colors that reflect a student’s academic discipline or major. For example, nursing graduates wear apricot tassels, fine art majors wear brown, graphic arts and business wear drab, engineering technologies use orange, and humanities or education students wear white — among other color codes tied to the college’s six Academic Schools.

Honor cords and stoles further customize academic regalia for individuals with scholastic achievements or student leadership credentials. Students who graduate with a high cumulative GPA or who complete the MVCC Honors Program may receive honor cords (often in gold or colors specified by the Honors Program). MVCC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter offers gold stoles to denote membership and distinguished completion of leadership requirements.

Faculty regalia aligns with academic standards, featuring black academic gowns, mortarboard caps, and academic hoods representing faculty members’ highest earned degrees. While MVCC does not publish a full discipline hood chart, hoods and tassels reflect academic tradition and may include colors aligned with MVCC branding and academic fields.

MVCC’s commencement attire — from graduation gown color to tassel and cord variations — creates a visually meaningful and inclusive academic celebration that honors student achievement through a diverse range of academic regalia.

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