Pennsylvania Western University, California

PennWest California — Commencement Regalia & Ceremony Summary

PennWest University — California campus conducts commencement with a focus on official academic regalia (graduation gown, graduation cap and tassel) and formal faculty regalia to ensure a unified, dignified ceremony. Participants must wear university-approved graduation gowns and mortarboard caps purchased through the campus bookstore or Follett online ordering; graduate hoods are required for master’s and doctoral candidates and will be formally presented during the hooding portion of the ceremony. Undergraduates must purchase and wear an academic robe and matching cap with tassel, though active U.S. military and veterans may wear military dress uniforms as an authorized exception.

Tassels and cords follow traditional academic convention: baccalaureate and master’s tassels are standard and positioned according to campus instructions, while doctoral tassels are often gold. The hood lining displays the awarding college’s colors and the velvet trim denotes the academic field; faculty regalia reflects rank and discipline with distinctive gown facings and sleeve bars. Latin Honors stoles, specialty honor cords, and class-gift tassels are managed by the bookstore or alumni offices, with pick-up instructions published in campus checklists.

Cap decoration is permitted in limited, respectful ways — mortarboards should convey well-wishes, gratitude, or sanctioned affiliations and must avoid offensive language or imagery. Commencement logistics emphasize rehearsal, line-up procedures, printed and digital programs, livestream access for remote guests, and accessibility supports including sign language interpreting. For exact hood colors, honor cord shades, and stole assignments by major, consult the official campus commencement program and the campus bookstore before ordering cap, gown and tassel sets.

Official university-approved cap, gown, and tassel sets sold via campus bookstore / Follett.
Graduate hooding ceremony for master’s & doctoral candidates; hood colors denote college.
Latin Honors stoles, class-gift tassels, and honor cords distributed per campus checklist.
Cap decorations allowed only if respectful; replacement mortarboard may be issued for noncompliance.
Digital and printed commencement programs; livestream and accessibility services provided.

PennWest California Commencement — Cap, Gown, Tassel, Hood & Regalia Guide

PennWest California follows formal academic regalia standards for commencement ceremonies. All degree candidates must wear an official academic robe and cap with tassel. Undergraduate (bachelor’s and associate) students must wear a black academic gown and mortarboard cap with the tassel hanging on the right until the degree is conferred. Graduate students (master’s and doctoral) are required to wear a gown and academic hood; doctoral graduates additionally order their cap and hood online, since these are not always stocked at campus bookstores.

Tassel, honor cord, and stole colors at PennWest California depend on the discipline and academic honors. According to the university’s official color chart: for example, Science uses golden yellow, Business uses drab, Education uses light blue, Nursing uses apricot, Psychology uses antique gold, Criminal Justice is midnight blue, Law is purple, Engineering is orange, and Arts/Humanities is white — among many other field-specific colors.

For academic honors: Summa Cum Laude graduates wear gold stoles; Magna Cum Laude graduates wear white stoles; Cum Laude graduates wear red stoles. Associate-degree students “with distinction” may wear white cords. In addition, alumni recognition (for participating in the alumni gift drive) may be represented by a red tassel and/or red or white cord.

Master’s- and doctoral-level graduates will be hooded during the ceremony. The hood lining displays the university’s colors (red and black for PennWest), while the velvet trim indicates the academic discipline according to the major’s color. Faculty regalia and all other discipline regalia follow those same discipline-defined velvet colors on gowns, hoods and trim.

Caps (mortarboards) may be decorated, but only with respectful messages, gratitude, or affiliations with university-recognized organizations; offensive language or unsanctioned imagery is not allowed — the ceremony staff may require removal or replacement of decorated caps.

Black academic gown & mortarboard required for bachelor’s (tassel on right until conferred).
Master and doctoral graduates must also wear academic hood; doctoral cap & hood ordered online.
Discipline-based tassel, hood trim & stole/collar colors per major (e.g. golden yellow for Science, light blue for Education, purple for Law, orange for Engineering, white for Arts).
Latin-honors stoles: gold (Summa), white (Magna), red (Cum); associate “with distinction” may wear white cords.
Alumni-gift tassel/cord option: red tassel or red/white cord.
Faculty and other discipline regalia use the same major-based velvet/trim color scheme.
Consistent regalia ordering via Follett Bookstore or online — in-person Grad Fairs and shipping available.
Mortarboard cap decorations allowed only if respectful — university reserves right to replace noncompliant caps.

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