Oglethorpe University

Oglethorpe University Commencement & Academic Regalia Overview

Oglethorpe University schedules its main Commencement ceremony annually — for instance, the Class of 2026 Commencement is announced for May 9, 2026 on the academic quad.

Graduating students must place a formal cap and gown order by specified deadlines: campus‑pickup orders due by late March; home‑delivery orders by early April.

Regalia is provided by an approved vendor (e.g., Herff Jones), and the required “cap and gown” package is mandatory for all graduates who wish to participate.

According to the publicly available 2025 Commencement Program, Oglethorpe adheres to standard academic‑dress traditions: a mortarboard or cap, gown, and — when applicable — hood.

The hood design signals institutional affiliation via its lining, and for graduate‑level recipients, velvet trim on the hood denotes the academic discipline or field of study.

For tassels, Oglethorpe allows standard black tassels, but also permits tassels that reflect the degree earned (for instance, tassel color may vary by discipline or degree level). Doctoral graduates may wear a gold tassel, though this varies by program and is sometimes, but not always, required.

The “Fields of Learning” color‑code published in the 2025 Commencement Program shows specific discipline‑color mappings that may be represented in velvet hood trim (and by implication tassels or hoods) — for example: Business & Accountancy = “drab,” Arts/Letters/Humanities = White, Education = Light Blue, Fine Arts = Brown, etc.

Oglethorpe also issues honor cords and stoles: during their cap‑and‑gown distribution events in April, the university distributes honor cords (e.g., for Latin‑honors graduates) alongside the standard regalia.

In short: Oglethorpe University enforces a structured academic‑regalia system — cap, gown, tassel for all graduates; hood and discipline‑colored trim for graduate or advanced‑degree recipients; and optional honor cords/stoles for recognized honors — with regalia ordered through the approved vendor and distributed before Commencement.

Oglethorpe University Academic Regalia – Cap, Gown, Tassel & Hood (Graduation Essentials)

• Institution: Oglethorpe University
• Included Essentials: Graduation gown, mortarboard cap, tassel — required for all students who walk at Commencement; hood included for eligible graduate‑level degrees.
• Discipline‑Based Color Coding: Tassel or hood velvet trim colors reflect the graduate’s field of study per the “Fields of Learning” guide (e.g. Drab, Light Blue, White, Brown, etc.).
• Honor Recognition Accessories: Official honor cords / stoles distributed for eligible honors‑graduates in addition to standard regalia. ([Oglethorpe Honor Cord Distribution Info])
• Who It’s For: Oglethorpe undergraduates, master’s/graduate students, alumni, or family members purchasing regalia for ceremonies or commemorative use.
• Ordering & Compliance: Regalia must be ordered through the approved vendor by the stated deadlines; unofficial regalia or untimely orders may not be accepted at Commencement.

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