State University of New York at Canton

SUNY Canton Commencement & Academic Regalia Guide

At SUNY Canton, all graduates participating in the official commencement ceremony are required to wear the college‑approved academic regalia: cap, gown, and tassel. The school’s tradition uses a blue graduation gown paired with a matching blue mortarboard cap. The standard tassel is “blue and gold,” reflecting the institution’s colors.

SUNY Canton Commencement & Academic Regalia Overview

SUNY Canton requires all graduates participating in the official commencement ceremony to wear the approved academic regalia: cap, gown, and tassel. Regalia is ordered through the campus store; ordering opens January 19 each year and orders must be placed by early March. Cap, gown and tassel bundles are provided free of charge to graduates, though hoods, honor tassels, cords, stoles, shipping or late‑fee costs are the responsibility of the graduate. This ensures a unified and formal graduation procession.

Bachelor (Undergraduate) Cap, Gown & Graduation Regalia

• Graduation gown color & style: Official blue gown — the standard for undergraduate graduates at SUNY Canton.
• Graduation cap: Matching blue mortarboard cap accompanying the gown.
• Tassel: Blue and gold tassel as standard for bachelor‑level graduates.
• Hood / Bachelor Hood: Graduates earning a bachelor degree may order a discipline‑specific hood for an additional fee. Hood colors correspond to the degree field: e.g. Business = drab (brown), Technology = orange, Science = gold (yellow).
• Honor cords / stoles / honor tassel: Students graduating with honors (GPA ≥ 3.25) can purchase a gold honor tassel. Active members of registered honor societies may opt to wear cords or stoles (or medallions) in society‑approved colors — for example: blue & gold cord or gold stole for one society; gold & green cord for certain engineering‑technology majors; hunter‑green & silver cord for veterinary‑technology society; red‑white‑blue cord for veterans. Honors‑based or society‑based accessories are optional and must be obtained via the respective honor society advisor.

Master’s & Doctoral Graduation Regalia

• Graduation gown: While the standard blue gown covers undergraduate use, graduate‑level gowns follow institutional guidelines for advanced degrees (gown style customized to master or doctoral level where applicable).
• Cap & tassel: Blue mortarboard with blue & gold tassel remains standard; however doctoral graduates or approved graduate‑level participants may wear a gold tassel, symbolizing advanced academic achievement.
• Hood: Master’s or doctoral‑level graduates may order a hood in the color corresponding to their discipline — matching the hood color chart used by the college.
• Honor cords / stoles / medallions: For graduate‑level honor society members or other recognized groups, cords, stoles or medallions in approved colors may be worn if the society or group provides them and they are registered on campus.

Faculty & Institutional Academic Regalia

• Faculty and staff participating in commencement wear full academic regalia that reflects their highest earned degree. This includes gown, hood, cap (or tam), and tassel. Hood colors correspond to the discipline of their terminal degree, aligning with customary academic dress practices.
• Faculty regalia maintains the formal tone of commencement, differentiating degree level and discipline through hood color, gown cut, and tassel/hood border if applicable.

Discipline & Honor‑Based Color Codes / Regalia Notes

• Standard bachelor graduates: blue gown, blue cap, blue & gold tassel.
• Hood colors by discipline: Business = drab (brown), Technology = orange, Science = gold (yellow) — giving visible cues to the field of study.
• Honor graduates (GPA threshold) may wear a gold tassel, adding distinction for academic excellence.
• Honor society members: optional cords, stoles or medallions — colors vary by society and discipline (e.g. blue/gold, gold/green, hunter‑green/silver, red/white/blue for veterans) and must be obtained through the respective society advisor.
• Doctoral or graduate‑level participants: may have specialized gowns and gold tassels to reflect advanced academic status; hoods and other accessories follow discipline‑specific color standards.

In short: SUNY Canton’s academic regalia system ensures consistency and tradition — with a base uniform of blue gown, blue cap, and blue & gold tassel, while allowing customization for discipline‑specific hoods, honors recognition, society affiliation, and academic level through additional cords, stoles, medallions and hoods. This mix balances institutional identity and individual academic or honor distinctions for commencement ceremonies.

Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at State University of New York at Canton , 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.