Saint Michael's College

Saint Michael’s College Commencement & Academic Regalia Overview

The annual Commencement at Saint Michael’s College typically occurs in May — the 2025 ceremony began at 10 a.m. in the Ross Sports Center, with graduates processing through campus and joining faculty and academic staff for degree conferral and honorary degree presentations.

Academic Regalia: Cap, Gown & Hood

• Caps and Gowns: Graduates wear the traditional mortarboard cap and gown. Bachelor’s gowns have pointed sleeves and are worn closed; master’s gowns have long oblong sleeves and may be worn open or closed; doctoral gowns feature bell-shaped sleeves with three velvet bars and velvet facings down the front.
• Faculty & Presidential Regalia: The presidential robe is purple with black chevrons edged in gold; the college mace and presidential insignia (a medallion-bearing chain) lead academic processions.
• Hoods: Hoods – worn around the neck and draped down the back – indicate the wearer’s degree and field of study. Hoods typically use black fabric with velvet trim denoting academic discipline; length and trim vary by degree level (bachelor, master, doctoral).

Tassels, Honor Cords & Stoles

• Tassels: Graduates receive caps and gowns along with tassels during “Senior Salute Day.” For 2025, SMC notes that “gold honors tassels” are provided to students earning Latin honors (e.g. summa, magna, cum laude).
• Honor Cords & Stoles: While the college’s public Commencement resources mention that honor cords, stoles, and departmental cords vary by program and honor society, SMC does not publish a widely accessible public-facing master list of cord or stole colors. Students eligible for honors may receive gold tassels (for Latin honors), but the exact color scheme for additional cords or stoles depends on the specific honor society or distinction and is distributed via campus store or honor society offices.

Summary: The academic regalia at Saint Michael’s College — including graduation gown, graduation cap, hood, and tassel — follows standard U.S. academic tradition. Caps and gowns are generally black, with different sleeve and hood styles depending on degree level. Faculty and the college president wear distinctive regalia (e.g., a purple robe for the president). Tassels for graduates generally start on the right and are moved to the left after the degree is conferred; gold tassels indicate Latin honors. Honor cords and stoles are awarded by individual honor societies or programs, and their colors depend on the awarding body, not a universal college-wide scheme.

Short Description

Official Saint Michael’s College academic regalia guidance — black cap & gown, purple & gold hood lining, discipline velvet trim and gold honors tassels; appropriate for Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral graduates and faculty regalia.

Long Description – Cap, Gown, Tassel & Regalia Details

Saint Michael’s College graduation ceremonies follow the standard academic costume tradition. Graduating students wear a mortarboard cap and gown, with gown style determined by degree level: Bachelor’s gowns with pointed sleeves and closed front; Master’s gowns with long oblong sleeves; Doctoral gowns with bell sleeves, velvet sleeve bars and velvet facings down the front.

The gown color for all degree levels remains classic black. Hoods — worn by Master’s and Doctoral graduates — are black on the outside, lined in the College colors (purple & gold), and trimmed with velvet in a color indicating the academic discipline.

Tassel color corresponds with degree or honors status: Bachelor’s and Master’s tassels are black. Doctoral graduates and students receiving Latin honors are awarded gold tassels — honor cords and stoles may accompany regalia depending on individual honors or society affiliation.

Faculty and institutional leadership wear formal academic regalia as well. The presidential robe at SMC is distinctive: purple with black chevrons edged in gold, setting leadership apart in the academic procession.

Regalia by Degree Level & Use

• Bachelor’s Cap & Gown Set: Black gown (pointed sleeves), mortarboard cap, black tassel (or gold if Latin honors), optional honor cords/stoles provided by honor societies.
• Master’s Cap & Gown Set: Black gown (long oblong sleeves), cap, black tassel, hood with purple & gold lining and discipline-color velvet trim.
• Doctoral Cap & Gown Set: Black doctoral gown with velvet facings and sleeve bars, cap or tam, gold tassel, hood with purple & gold lining, discipline-color velvet trim.
• Faculty & Institutional Regalia: Traditional academic regalia per the Intercollegiate Code; presidential robe in purple and gold chevron style.

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