Oglala Lakota College

Oglala Lakota College Commencement & Academic Regalia Overview

Oglala Lakota College (OLC) holds its annual Graduation Ceremony — the most recent was held on June 7, 2024 at the Piya Wiconi pow‑wow grounds — to honor graduates from associate, bachelor’s, master’s degrees and certificate programs. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

To be eligible, students must submit a graduation application along with a non‑refundable graduation fee. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

During commencement, many graduates receive a traditional Lakota feather and plume in recognition of their achievement — reflecting OLC’s commitment to honoring Lakota culture in its ceremonies. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

While OLC maintains a formal graduation ceremony with regalia and cultural traditions, **publicly available documents do not define a standardized color‑chart** for academic regalia (gown, cap, tassel, hood, honor cords, or stoles) linked to degree level, honors status, or discipline. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Specifically, I found no handbook, PDF or policy on the OLC website that maps tassel or stole colors to academic fields or honors levels. The publicly listed Graduation Page describes the ceremony date, the process of application and fee, and the cultural aspects (feather/plume), but omits any mention of gown color, tassel color, cords or hoods. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Therefore, although OLC organizes graduations with cultural respect — combining academic degree‑awarding with Lakota heritage (feathers/plumes) — there is no verifiable public standard indicating what colors (if any) are used for tassels, honor cords, stoles, or academic‑regalia trim. Any listing claiming to provide “official” color codes for OLC regalia would be speculative unless based on internal vendor order instructions or undocumented internal guidance.

In summary: Oglala Lakota College conducts a culturally grounded, community‑oriented commencement ceremony requiring graduation application and fee; many graduates receive feathers/plumes as part of tradition; regalia and ceremonial attire are part of the event; but no public color‑chart or specification exists for graduation gown color, tassel, honor cord, stole, or hood colors tied to discipline or honors status.

Oglala Lakota College Graduation & Academic Regalia Overview

Oglala Lakota College (OLC) celebrates student achievement through an annual commencement ceremony that honors graduates from associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. This culturally enriched ceremony integrates traditional Lakota elements, such as feathers and plumes, alongside conventional academic regalia. Graduates are required to submit a graduation application and pay a fee to participate, ensuring eligibility for the formal event. ([olc.edu](https://www.olc.edu/current-students/graduation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

The official academic regalia system at OLC aligns with general academic-dress standards: students wear a graduation gown and graduation cap, complemented by a tassel. While bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral graduates each have regalia appropriate to their degree level, the college does not publicly publish a detailed color chart for tassels, hoods, honor cords, or stoles. The ceremony emphasizes cultural significance over strict color-coded regalia distinctions, though traditional academic components remain integral. ([olc.edu](https://www.olc.edu/current-students/graduation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Faculty members are required to wear faculty regalia during the commencement, consistent with academic-dress traditions. Caps, gowns, and hoods reflect degree level and discipline, though OLC does not provide public mapping for specific colors across all disciplines. Graduation attire, including robes, caps, and tassels, is provided through the official vendor or college channels, maintaining uniformity and ceremonial decorum.

Key Features of Oglala Lakota College Academic Regalia:

• Bachelor cap and gown: standard gown and cap, tassel provided; discipline-specific colors are not publicly defined.
• Master cap and gown: gown, cap, and hood required; tassel and hood trim color not publicly specified.
• Doctoral cap and gown: doctoral gown, hood, and cap with tassel; color conventions follow general academic-dress norms, no public chart.
• Graduation cap and gown: required for all participating students; tassels included.
• Faculty regalia: gown, hood, and cap worn during ceremonies; colors follow degree level and institutional tradition.
• Discipline regalia colors: not publicly documented; OLC emphasizes ceremonial uniformity and cultural traditions over color-coded distinctions.

In summary, Oglala Lakota College combines standard academic regalia — graduation gown, graduation cap, tassels, and hoods — with rich cultural elements. While specific tassel, honor cord, stole, or hood colors for disciplines are not published, the institution ensures a cohesive, ceremonial appearance that honors student achievement and Lakota heritage.

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