Normandale Community College’s commencement ceremony is a formal celebration honoring graduating students in May at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. To participate in the commencement procession, graduates must apply for graduation and reserve their academic regalia — including the official graduation gown, graduation cap, and tassel — through Jostens after their graduation application is approved. The cap and gown and tassels set is provided free of charge to ceremony participants and picked up with the graduate’s commencement “grad pack.” :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Each graduate receives a standard cap, black graduation gown, and tassel included in the grad pack. Tassels are symbolic and color‑coded: a black and red tassel denotes a Normandale graduate or certificate completer; a gold tassel signifies academic honors (Honors with a GPA of 3.00‑3.49 and High Honors with a GPA of 3.50 or higher), with high honors recipients also receiving an honors medallion. Specialty tassels are available for specific programs such as Nursing (white) and Dental Hygiene (lilac). :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Normandale recognizes academic achievement and organizational affiliation through approved honor cords and stoles. Phi Theta Kappa members may wear a gold stole, while Mu Alpha Theta honor society members wear sky blue and gold cords. Veterans are honored with a dark blue stole and service members with a red, white and blue cord. These honor accessories complement the classic black academic gown and mortarboard, enhancing the visual academic regalia to reflect both achievement and community involvement. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
The ceremony also celebrates faculty and distinguished staff contributions, although Normandale does not specify unique faculty regalia colors beyond traditional academic dress guidelines. Faculty typically wear formal academic attire consistent with higher education norms during the commencement. Graduates are encouraged to keep their tassel on the right until directed to move it to the left following degree conferral, symbolizing the transition from student to alumnus/a. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Normandale Community College’s commencement blends traditional academic regalia — including cap, gown, and tassels sets — with meaningful honor distinctions through cords and stoles, creating a visually unified and celebratory academic milestone for all graduates. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
At Normandale Community College, commencement is a proud academic milestone celebrated in May at Orchestra Hall. Graduating students participating in the ceremony must order their official academic regalia, including the graduation gown, graduation cap, and tassel through the college’s Jostens portal after applying for graduation. Normandale provides the cap, gown, and tassel free of charge in the graduate pack for ceremony participants. Graduates keep their tassel as a keepsake. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Normandale Community College’s commencement regalia traditions blend timeless academic dress with personalized recognition through tassel colors, honor cords, and stoles. Graduates should order their cap, gown and tassel sets early and select approved honors accessories to commemorate their academic achievements while maintaining a unified and academic commencement aesthetic. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at Normandale 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.