Olney Central College

Olney Central College (part of the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges system) conducts formal commencement ceremonies — for example, the 61st Annual Commencement was held on May 9, 2025 at the OCC Gymnasium.

OCC’s “Commencement Program” document outlines a traditional academic‑dress code. Graduates wear academic regalia: gown and cap with tassel; for higher degrees (if applicable) master’s/doctoral style gowns and hoods are distinguished by sleeve shape and hood trim.

Specifically: the bachelor/associate‑level gown features long pointed sleeves; master’s gowns use long closed sleeves with slits; doctoral gowns (if used) have bell-shaped sleeves and velvet trim — reflecting the academic rank of the wearer.

For all graduates, the mortarboard cap’s tassel is worn on the right side before degree conferral — then moved to the left to symbolize graduation.

OCC also uses a field‑/discipline‑based color code for hoods and regalia trim — the hood’s velvet or binding color represents the major field of study. Fields and their assigned colors include: Arts & Humanities (White), Business (Beige), Communication (Crimson), Education (Light Blue), Engineering (Orange), Fine Arts (Brown), Music (Pink), Philosophy (Dark Blue), Science (Gold), Theology (Scarlet), among others.

Additionally, OCC supports honor recognition via stoles, cords or society membership. For instance, members of honor‑societies (e.g. national honor societies), specialized programs (nursing, imaging, etc.), or student government (senate), wear cords or stoles in designated colors — such as apricot cords for a nursing honor society, yellow stoles for certain honor‑society members, white stoles for student‑senate, maroon/forest‑green cords for specific imaging honor societies.

In effect: OCC maintains a structured academic regalia system — standard black (or gown‑base) graduation gown + cap + tassel for all; hood and regalia trim in discipline‑specific colors for graduates or faculty; and honor‑cords and stoles in approved colors for honors, societies or special programs — preserving academic tradition, formal commencement appearance, and recognitions for achievement or membership.

Olney Central College Graduation Regalia - Cap, Gown, Tassel, Honor Cord, Stole Colors

Celebrate your academic achievements with Olney Central College’s official graduation regalia. Whether you are completing your Associate's or Bachelor's degree, our high-quality cap, gown, tassel, honor cord, and stole sets ensure you look your best on your special day. These traditional academic regalia are a symbol of dedication, achievement, and academic excellence.

Graduation Gown, Cap, Tassel, Honor Cord & Stole Details

Graduation Gown Color: Standard black gown symbolizing academic tradition and success.
Graduation Cap: Black mortarboard, worn with a tassel that graduates shift from right to left upon receiving their diploma.
Tassel: Black tassel for most disciplines, with variations available for specific honors or academic achievements.
Honor Cord: Awarded to students with high academic performance, often gold or silver cords to recognize their achievements.
Stole: Available in various colors to represent specific degrees, honors, or cultural affiliations, such as gold for academic excellence.

Degree-Specific Regalia

Associate's Degree Regalia

Cap: Black graduation cap with standard tassel.
Tassel Color: Black, representing general academic achievement.
Honor Cord Color: Gold or silver cords for students with high academic standing.
Stole Color: Gold, typically awarded for excellence in studies.

Bachelor's Degree Regalia

Cap: Black cap with matching tassel.
Tassel Color: Black with unique colors reflecting the student's field of study (e.g., blue for business, red for arts).
Honor Cord Color: Gold or silver cords depending on academic excellence.
Stole Color: Gold, maroon, or specific colors reflecting the student's discipline.

Faculty Regalia

Faculty Gown: Black gown, often featuring velvet panels and hoods representing the faculty’s academic discipline.
Faculty Cap: Black cap with a tassel that signifies academic rank.
Faculty Hood: Hoods in varying colors to represent the faculty’s discipline and academic achievements.

Other Disciplines' Regalia Colors

Arts: Red or purple stoles and honor cords.
Science: Green stoles and cords.
Business: Navy blue stoles and honor cords.
Social Sciences: Yellow or gold stoles and cords.

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