Oakland University Commencement & Academic Regalia Overview

Oakland University requires all graduation candidates — undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral — to wear official academic regalia in order to participate in commencement ceremonies. Regalia (cap, gown, tassel/hood) is available for purchase through the OU Bookstore / Gear Shop.

For bachelor’s degree recipients, the standard cap, gown and tassel set includes a black gown and a mortarboard cap with a matching tassel. Graduates must wear the cap level on the head and gown properly fitted. Tassel placement follows tradition — beginning on the right side and shifting to the left once degrees are officially conferred.

Graduate students (master’s and doctoral) follow a different regalia set: a gown, hood and tassel (or tam for doctoral) per OU’s Graduate Ceremony guidelines.Honor cords or stoles may be worn by eligible undergraduate graduates — those earning academic honours, achieving required GPA thresholds, or belonging to recognised student organisations. Graduate recipients, however, do not receive honour cords under OU policy.

Faculty and doctoral-level participants wear formal academic regalia matching their highest earned degree. Their gowns, hoods, and caps reflect traditional academic dress protocols and institutional standards for commencement attire.

In short: Oakland University’s commencement protocol ensures a uniform ceremony appearance — black gowns and mortarboard caps for undergraduates, hooded gowns for graduate students, optional honour cords or stoles for qualifying undergraduates, and full academic regalia for faculty and doctoral participants. All participants must order or rent the official cap, gown and tassel/hood set from the OU Bookstore and adhere to the published regalia and ceremony guidelines to be eligible to walk at commencement.

Oakland University Academic Regalia – Cap, Gown, Tassel/Hood & Honor Accessories

• Graduation gown: Standard black gown for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral candidates.
• Graduation cap (mortarboard or tam): Mortarboard for bachelor’s/master’s; tam or mortarboard for doctoral candidates.
• Tassel & hood sets: Bachelor’s tassel; master’s/doctoral hood and tassel/tam depending on degree level.
• Honor cords & stoles: Available for eligible undergraduates with recognized honors or honour-society membership.
• Faculty & advanced-degree regalia: Professional gowns, hoods and caps/tams for doctoral graduates and university faculty.

Order your official Oakland University graduation attire early via the OU Gear Shop or Bookstore to meet commencement deadlines. Ensure you request the correct degree-level set and verify eligibility for any honor cords or stoles. Celebrate your academic milestone with a polished, unified appearance.

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