Roger Williams University

Roger Williams University Commencement & Academic Regalia Overview

Roger Williams University conducts its annual commencement ceremony each May on its Bristol campus, gathering undergraduates, graduates, law students and their families to celebrate academic achievement. The main ceremony begins with a processional from the Fieldhouse, followed by school‑specific ceremonies for different colleges (e.g. Law, Business, Arts & Sciences). Admission to the ceremony does not require tickets — seating is first come, first served. ([rwu.edu Commencement 2025]) :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

All participating graduates must wear the university’s official academic regalia: a graduation gown and cap (mortarboard for undergraduates and master’s; tam or hooded robe for law or professional programs), paired with a tassel. Regalia is ordered through the campus bookstore; undergraduates, graduate and law students all receive regalia sets if cleared to graduate.

Decorating mortarboards is explicitly permitted — graduates may personalize their caps as long as decorations remain respectful. This is part of RWU’s commencement policy.

RWU’s public commencement documents and graduation guide do not provide a published, comprehensive “color‑chart” mapping tassel, hood, stole, or cord colors to specific academic disciplines or degree types. As a result, the standard cap and gown set remains uniform across majors and degree levels, ensuring a cohesive ceremony appearance.

Honor cords, stoles, or discipline‑specific regalia are not detailed in publicly available RWU commencement guides or regalia policies. There is no official reference to mandatory hoods or color‑coded tassels for each program, nor a published list of colors for stoles or cords. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5} Personal adornments beyond approved regalia are left to graduates’ discretion but are not institutional‑endorsed.

In summary: Roger Williams University’s commencement ceremony follows standard academic‑regalia tradition. All graduates wear a mortarboard cap (or appropriate professional headwear), gown, and tassel. Regalia is ordered via the bookstore and provided for eligible students. Since RWU does not publish a discipline‑based color chart, regalia remains uniform across majors. Optional personalization — like decorated caps — is allowed, but there is no official institutional color coding for tassels, stoles, or honor cords for different programs or honors.

• Mortarboard cap, academic gown, and tassel — standard required attire for Roger Williams University commencement graduates.
• Neutral‑color gown and cap — compatible across all majors and degree types, since RWU does not publish a discipline‑based color code.
• Compatible for any graduate: undergraduate, graduate, law, extension or certificate — one set fits all graduation participants.
• Cap personalization supported — graduates are allowed to decorate their mortarboards for a unique commencement look.
• Ideal for the full ceremony — from processional to recessional — and for graduation photos and memorabilia.

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