Piedmont University

Piedmont University hosts a structured commencement ceremony for undergraduate and graduate students, emphasizing traditional academic regalia. Graduates are required to wear a graduation gown and a mortarboard cap. Undergraduate tassels are initially worn on the right side and moved to the left upon degree conferral, while master’s and doctoral tassels remain on the left throughout the ceremony. This reflects customary academic tradition and creates a uniform, professional appearance for all graduates.

For honors students, the University provides stoles and cords to signify achievement. Latin honors stoles are color-coded: green for Cum Laude, white for Magna Cum Laude, and gold for Summa Cum Laude. Additional cords or stoles may be worn for membership in approved honor societies, academic clubs, fraternities/sororities, or athletics, with colors designated by the issuing organization. This ensures that recognition is both visible and standardized across disciplines.

Faculty and doctoral regalia include gowns and hoods reflecting their earned degrees and institutions. Hoods feature colors that indicate the academic discipline and the awarding institution, while faculty gowns often have velvet panels and sleeve bars, distinguishing them from undergraduate and master’s attire. All regalia adheres to formal guidelines to maintain consistency and tradition during the ceremony.

The University prohibits unapproved adornments or decorations on caps and gowns, ensuring a cohesive and dignified presentation. The academic regalia program at Piedmont University enables students, faculty, and guests to celebrate scholarly achievement while maintaining the decorum expected in commencement ceremonies.

In summary, Piedmont University’s commencement attire policy combines graduation gowns, caps, tassels, honor cords, stoles, and faculty regalia to create a traditional, polished, and meaningful ceremony. The clear guidelines for Latin honors, organizational cords, and hoods provide visual recognition of academic achievements while maintaining consistency across all degree levels.

Piedmont University Graduation & Academic Regalia Overview

Piedmont University provides a clear, consistent commencement attire policy across all programs. This overview helps students, regalia vendors, and marketplace sellers understand what regalia — including graduation gown, graduation cap, tassels, honor cords and stoles — is allowed for bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and faculty ceremonies.

???? Commencement & Regalia Policy at Piedmont University

Cap & Gown: Graduates wear a classic mortarboard cap (or appropriate doctoral cap) and a traditional graduation gown. Regalia is ordered through the university‑approved vendor each semester.
Tassels: For undergraduates, the tassel begins on the right and is moved to the left when the degree is conferred. Graduate (master’s/doctoral) tassels remain on the left throughout.
Hoods & Graduate Regalia: Master’s and doctoral graduates (and faculty where applicable) wear academic hoods that reflect the degree earned. Doctoral‑level regalia includes appropriate hoods and gown styling.
Honor Cords, Stoles & Pins: The University permits approved honor cords, stoles or pins to signify academic honors (honors societies, organizational membership, major-specific cords) at Commencement.
Latin Honors Stoles & Discipline‑Based Hood Colors: According to the Summer Commencement Program, hoods have velvet trim colors indicating academic discipline — for example, gold‑yellow for Science, drab for Business, light blue for Education, scarlet for Theology, pink for Music, brown for Fine Arts, dark blue for Philosophy, among others. Tassels for bachelor’s and master’s degrees remain black; doctoral tassels are gold.
Regalia Integrity & Restrictions: Mortarboards must be worn squared (not tilted). Unapproved adornments, excessive decorations, or non‑university‑approved stoles/ cords will be confiscated and replaced.

Implications for Bachelor, Master & Doctoral Graduates (All Disciplines)

For bachelor‑level graduates: expect a standard black graduation gown and mortarboard cap, with a black tassel that moves from right to left upon degree conferral. If the degree is with honors or membership in a recognized society, approved honor cords or stoles may be worn.

For master’s and doctoral graduates: plan on wearing a gown with proper hood matching your discipline, tassel on the left (gold for doctoral), and any approved cords or stoles for honors or affiliations. Faculty or doctoral‑level academic regalia will follow the same hood/trims based on discipline and degree-granting institution.

Summary — What is Defined & What is Flexible

Piedmont University’s commencement regalia policy standardizes the use of a mortarboard or doctoral cap, gown, hoods (for graduate degrees), tassels, and approved honor cords or stoles — aligning with traditional academic regalia conventions. While certain elements are clearly defined (e.g. tassel movement, discipline‑specific hood trim colors, black gown for bachelors, gold tassel for doctorates), there is flexibility only within approved cords/stoles or organizational honors. Unapproved additions or custom decorations are not permitted.

For vendors or prospective buyers of graduation gown, academic regalia or tassel sets (for bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, or faculty regalia) — this structure offers clear guidance. A generic black gown with appropriate hood, plus black or gold tassel depending on degree level, and optional approved cords/stoles — is the safe, compliant standard for Piedmont University students.

Use this summary as a baseline when marketing or supplying regalia sets intended for Piedmont University graduates across all disciplines.

For more details, view Piedmont University’s official Commencement & Graduate Attire pages.

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