Southern Utah University Commencement Ceremony & Academic Regalia
The commencement ceremony at Southern Utah University (SUU) is the formal event where degrees are conferred to the graduating class. Graduates from all academic colleges gather on the Upper Quad for a processional under the campus carillon, then proceed to the venue (e.g. America First Events Center) for the university‑wide ceremony. Entry does not require tickets, though seating is limited; guests are encouraged to arrive early.
To participate, all graduates must wear the official cap, gown, and tassel, provided by SUU. The university supplies one regalia package per graduate at no cost, and the items are theirs to keep. Undergraduates (Bachelor) wear a standard black gown and mortarboard cap; Associate degree recipients wear a dark blue gown and cap. Master’s candidates wear a different black gown with longer sleeves, a mortarboard, and also a hood whose lining identifies their field of study.
### Tassel, Honor Cord, and Stole Colors
- Tassel Colors by Degree / College (Bachelor’s): Business – Drab; Education – Light Blue; Engineering & Computational Sciences – Orange; Health Science – Sage; Nursing – Apricot; Humanities & Social Sciences – White; Performing & Visual Arts – Dark Brown; Music – Pink; Sciences – Gold.
- Associate Degrees: Silver tassel.
- Master’s Degrees: Tassel color is Black, plus the academic hood reflects field of study with distinct colors (e.g. Business/Accountancy – Drab; Arts Administration – Dark Brown; Athletic Training/Sports Conditioning – Sage; Cyber Security & Info Assurance – Orange; Education – Light Blue; Interdisciplinary Studies / Professional Communication – White; Music Education / Music Technology – Pink; Public Administration – Peacock).
- Honor & Special Regalia: Graduates earning academic honors (e.g. Summa or Magna Cum Laude) receive medallions at no charge. “Gratitude Stoles” — white satin with the SUU logo — are available for graduates to wear during the ceremony and later gift to someone who supported them. “Legacy Stoles” recognizing SUU‑legacy families are also offered for purchase. Additionally, a special red and grey cord is worn by graduates who donate $20.25 or more to the university’s Old Sorrel Club, marking their support for future T‑Birds.
Graduation stoles (gratitude or legacy) and additional cords beyond the standard regalia may be purchased online or picked up at SUU’s “Grad Fair.”
Overall, SUU’s commencement attire and ceremony follow widely recognized academic regalia customs: mortarboard caps and tassels, black gowns for bachelor’s and master’s (with master’s including a hood), plus optional cords or stoles for honors or special recognition. The varied tassel and hood colors tie each graduate’s regalia to their field of study, while stoles and cords add personalization or symbolic meaning.
Southern Utah University – Official Graduation Gown, Cap & Academic Regalia
At SUU, academic regalia reflects tradition, achievement and your field of study. Whether completing a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral program through the Campus of Applied Sciences & Technology, graduates are expected to wear official graduation gown, mortarboard cap, tassel and, if applicable, hood — all aligned with discipline‑specific colors.
Bachelor Graduation Regalia
Undergraduate students wear the classic black graduation gown and mortarboard cap. The tassel color varies by college or major, serving as a clear visual indicator of the academic discipline.
- Business – Drab
- Education – Light Blue
- Engineering & Computational Sciences – Orange
- Health Science – Sage
- Nursing – Apricot
- Humanities & Social Sciences – White
- Performing & Visual Arts – Dark Brown
- Music – Pink
- Sciences – Gold
Optional honor cords, stoles, or medallions may be worn to denote academic honors or special recognition. SUU provides one free regalia package per graduate.
Master Degree Regalia
Master’s candidates wear an upgraded black gown (distinct sleeve style), mortarboard cap, black tassel and an academic hood. The hood’s colors correspond to the student’s field of study.
- Business / Accountancy – Drab
- Arts Administration – Dark Brown
- Athletic Training / Sports Conditioning – Sage
- Cybersecurity / Info Assurance – Orange
- Education – Light Blue
- Interdisciplinary Studies / Professional Communication – White
- Music Education / Music Technology – Pink
- Public Administration – Peacock
Stoles and cords remain optional and may reflect honors or additional affiliations.
Doctoral, Faculty & Other Regalia
SUU does not publicly publish a detailed color chart for doctoral or faculty‑level regalia on its website. Graduates and faculty should verify regalia requirements with the Registrar or via Grad Fair for doctoral gowns, hoods or tassel‑color standards. Default SUU practice requires official regalia (cap and gown) for participation.
Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at Southern Utah 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.
