SUNY Niagara Commencement & Academic Regalia Guide

SUNY Niagara hosts an annual commencement ceremony — typically held on the third Saturday in May — for eligible graduates (certificates, associate degrees, or other credentials) to publicly celebrate their academic achievements. Participation requires purchasing or renting a cap, gown, and tassel set from the campus bookstore before the deadline. This ensures uniform academic regalia across all candidates and maintains ceremony dignity and tradition.

For most graduates, the standard commencement attire consists of a black graduation gown and matching mortarboard (graduation cap) with a black tassel. When a graduate pays for the official set, it includes the cap, gown, and tassel — no outside gowns or caps are allowed. This uniform look keeps the ceremony’s visual presentation consistent and professional.

Students who earn academic honors (for example through honorary societies such as Phi Theta Kappa or Alpha Beta Gamma, or meet GPA honors thresholds) may wear approved honor cords or stoles. These cords or stoles signal individual academic achievement or membership in recognized student organizations. Their use must comply with SUNY Niagara’s commencement regulations.

Faculty, administrators, or staff members who choose to robe and participate in the processional also follow academic-regalia protocols. They must rent or order their robes and caps via the campus bookstore, using deadlines set by the commencement office. Those who do not robe typically volunteer for administrative roles during the ceremony. Faculty hoods, velvet-trimmed gowns, or other discipline-specific regalia may be used, depending on their highest earned degree and academic field.

Tickets for guests are distributed only to students who purchase their cap and gown by the deadline. Guests (including children) must have individual tickets to enter the venue. On the day of commencement, graduates should arrive early (often around 9:00 a.m.) for robing and line-up. Additional instructions—such as name cards, seating rules, and culminating photo session and reception—are communicated in advance by the commencement office.

SUNY Niagara Academic Regalia & Commencement Overview

The State University of New York at Niagara, Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, holds annual commencement ceremonies that celebrate graduates' academic achievements in a formal and unified setting. All participating students, faculty, and staff are required to wear official academic regalia, including graduation gowns, mortarboard caps, tassels, honor cords, and stoles. The regalia is carefully designed to reflect the graduate's degree level, academic discipline, and any honors earned, ensuring a polished and professional presentation for the ceremony.

Bachelor’s graduates wear a black graduation gown with a matching mortarboard cap. The tassel is typically black, though students earning honors may add a gold or designated honor cord. Approved stoles, representing academic societies, student organizations, or special achievements, can be worn over the gown. These stoles often incorporate the university colors or symbols tied to the student’s program or affiliation, maintaining a consistent yet personalized appearance.

Master’s graduates wear black gowns with long, square sleeves and a matching mortarboard. The gown is paired with an academic hood, which features lining in SUNY Niagara’s institutional colors and a velvet trim representing the graduate's academic discipline. Tassels remain black, and honor cords or stoles may be worn if officially recognized by the program or department. These elements provide a distinct visual differentiation from undergraduate regalia while upholding ceremonial tradition.

Doctoral graduates wear an enhanced gown with velvet front panels and three velvet sleeve bars. Doctoral hoods are larger, lined in institutional colors, and trimmed with velvet in the discipline color. Doctoral caps may be mortarboards or velvet tams, with tassels that often include gold detailing. Stoles or cords for special recognition can also be worn if permitted, allowing doctoral graduates to showcase academic distinction while remaining in line with formal regalia standards.

Faculty regalia follows traditional academic colors and hoods that represent the highest earned degree and discipline. Applied Sciences and Technology disciplines typically use golden yellow for sciences, orange for engineering/technology, white for arts and humanities, and light blue for education. Faculty regalia maintains ceremonial uniformity and complements the graduate regalia.

Google Store-Style Listing Highlights

• Black cap & gown sets for all SUNY Niagara graduates
• Gold honor cords and stoles available for academic distinction
• Master’s and doctoral hoods with official institutional and discipline colors
• Doctoral robes with velvet accents and optional velvet tam caps
• Faculty regalia sets reflecting highest earned degrees and academic disciplines
• Complete cap, gown, tassel, hood, and accessory packages for formal commencement ceremonies