Saint Mary's University

Saint Mary’s University (Halifax) — Commencement & Academic Regalia Summary

Saint Mary’s University in Halifax conducts formal convocation ceremonies that emphasize traditional academic regalia. Graduates wear the mortarboard graduation cap and appropriate gowns, with gown style and hood usage determined by degree level. The graduation gown color for bachelor’s and master’s candidates is the classic black; doctoral regalia follows faculty rules and includes discipline-trimmed hoods and distinctive robe treatments. The university uses institution-color hood linings (maroon satin with white chevron) to reinforce school identity while velvet or cloth trim signals the graduate’s academic discipline.

Hoods & Discipline Colors

Academic hoods — worn by master’s and doctoral graduates — are lined in SMU maroon satin and edged with a velvet or cloth border whose color denotes the field of study. Common discipline colors follow conventional academic codes (for example: white for Arts, gold for Science, grey for Commerce, green for Environmental Studies, pink for Music, orange for Engineering, light blue for Education). Hood length and trim vary by degree level to clearly indicate bachelor, master and doctoral status.

Tassels, Honor Cords & Stoles

Tassels are distributed with the cap and gown sets and form part of the standard cap, gown and tassels sets used during convocation. Tassel color is typically black for undergraduate and master’s graduates; doctoral tassels or honor tassels may use gold or other distinguishing colors for high academic distinction. SMU’s public materials do not publish a single master chart of honor-cord or stole colors — cords and stoles are generally awarded by academic departments, honor societies or student services and must be approved for wear at ceremonies.

Faculty & Official Regalia

Faculty and university officials wear full academic dress following Intercollegiate Code conventions: doctoral-style robes, hoods trimmed by discipline color, and institution-color hood linings. Institutional insignia and distinctive faculty robes visually distinguish leadership and degree holders during processions.

Summary: Saint Mary’s University balances classic academic dress — graduation cap, graduation gown, hood and tassel — with institution-specific hood linings and faculty color coding, ensuring each graduate’s degree level, discipline and honors are clearly communicated at commencement.

Short Description

Official Saint Mary’s University (Halifax) academic regalia guide — complete cap, gown and tassel sets with institution-color hood lining and discipline-trimmed hoods for bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and faculty use.

Long Description – Cap, Gown, Tassel & Regalia Details

Saint Mary’s University convocation and graduation ceremonies follow a traditional academic-dress code. Undergraduate (bachelor’s) graduates wear an academic robe, hood lined in maroon satin with a white chevron (the SMU institution color), and a mortarboard cap, completing the standard cap & gown tassel set. (Hood signifies award of degree.)

Master’s graduates receive a robe, maroon-lined hood, and cap. The hood’s lining and overall regalia reflect their academic achievement. For doctoral or other graduate-level degrees, the academic robe is combined with a discipline-trimmed hood and cap (when required), with the hood trim indicating the graduate’s faculty (e.g. white for Arts, gold for Science, grey for Commerce, green for Environmental Studies, etc.).

Caps come with tassels as part of the set; when mortarboards are used, tassels complete the traditional graduation cap, gown and tassel set — ideal for convocation ceremonies and graduation photos.

Faculty and institutional officials wear full academic regalia — robes, hoods with discipline-colored trim, and institution-colored lining — aligning with SMU’s convocation standards.

Regalia by Degree Level & Use

• Bachelor’s Set: Robe + hood (maroon satin with white chevron lining) + mortarboard cap + tassel — classic undergraduate graduation attire.
• Master’s Set: Robe + hood (maroon-lined) + cap + tassel — for master’s degree graduates.
• Doctoral/Graduate Set: Academic robe + hood with faculty-colour trim + cap (as required) — for doctoral and advanced degree recipients.
• Cap & Gown Tassel Package: Mortarboard cap with matching tassel, robe — forms the standard graduation outfit for convocation ceremonies.
• Faculty / Official Regalia: Full academic-dress robes with discipline-trimmed hoods and institution lining — suitable for faculty, administrators, or honorary degrees at convocation.

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