Ouachita Baptist University Commencement Ceremony

The commencement ceremony at Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) is a momentous occasion where graduates celebrate the successful completion of their academic journey. As part of the tradition, students wear formal academic regalia, including a graduation gown, graduation cap, and tassels. These items serve as symbols of academic achievement and are integral to the graduation experience.

Graduates at OBU typically wear a black graduation gown as part of their academic regalia, with the graduation cap (mortarboard) worn along with a tassel. The tassel is shifted from the right to the left side of the cap during the ceremony, signifying the completion of their degree. The color of the tassel reflects the student's academic discipline, such as gold for business, white for health sciences, and other colors to represent different fields like arts, sciences, and education.

OBU graduates who have earned academic honors are recognized with honor cords or stoles. Honor cords typically come in gold, silver, or other colors, depending on the level of academic achievement. These cords are worn around the neck and serve as a visual representation of the student's distinction. Stoles are worn by students involved in honor societies or specific academic groups and can come in a variety of colors, often signifying a particular academic or leadership role.

The faculty regalia at OBU is also an important aspect of the ceremony. Faculty members wear gowns, caps, and hoods that reflect their academic degrees and disciplines. The faculty regalia serves as a mark of scholarly achievement and is worn with pride during the event.

Graduation products, including full cap and gown sets, tassels, honor cords, and stoles, are available for purchase online through Amazon and Google Stores. These cap and gown sets ensure that graduates are ready for their special day.

Ouachita Baptist University Graduation Regalia & Academic Apparel

Celebrate your scholarly achievement at Ouachita Baptist University with formal academic regalia — cap, gown, tassel, hood, and honor cords — styled to match OBU’s official commencement tradition. Perfect for bachelor, master’s, doctoral graduates, or faculty.

• Standard Bachelor’s Regalia — traditional mortarboard cap and black gown; tassel worn right before ceremony, moved left at conferral. Students proceed in procession, degree is conferred, and mortarboard tassel turned accordingly.
• Master’s & Doctoral Regalia (with Hood) — gown with hood; hood lining and velvet border reflect academic discipline. Hood border colors follow OBU’s discipline‑color chart: e.g. “Light Blue = Education,” “Apricot = Nursing,” “Gold = Science,” “White = Arts & Letters,” “Scarlet = Theology,” etc.
• Honor Cords, Stoles & Distinctions — OBU recognizes honors and societies publicly: a gold stole for honors‑program graduates; blue & green braid for honor‑society membership; gold, purple or other braids indicating Latin honors levels (summa, magna, cum laude).
• Faculty & Doctoral Regalia — faculty and doctoral‑degree holders wear gowns with velvet panels/stripes, velvet‑sleeve bars, and hoods whose lining shows OBU colors and velvet edges reflect discipline.
• Discipline‑Based Hood & Trim Colors — OBU’s published hood‑color scheme includes a range of academic fields: White for Arts & Letters; Light Brown/Drab for Business; Light Blue for Education; Brown for Fine Arts; Purple for Law; Yellow for Library/Social Science; Green for Medicine; Apricot for Nursing; Dark Blue for Philosophy; Gold for Science; Scarlet for Theology.

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