Tidewater Community College Commencement & Academic Regalia

Tidewater Community College (TCC) holds its official commencement ceremonies twice a year — in May and December — welcoming graduates to celebrate their academic achievements in formal procession. Grads are required to purchase their own cap and gown through campus bookstores, and the college provides guidance on regalia via its Registrar’s Office.

According to the TCC commencement program, academic regalia at TCC includes a distinctive blue graduation gown and matching mortarboard cap. The tassel is silver-and-blue for standard graduates, complementing TCC’s school colors. Additionally, a silver stole bearing the college seal is part of the regalia ensemble.

TCC supports a rich variety of honor cords and stoles to recognize special student achievements and affiliations. Some cords reflect the graduate’s degree type: for example, Certificate/Diploma graduates wear red & green; Associate of Applied Science graduates wear green & blue; Associate of Arts graduates wear red & blue; and Associate of Science graduates wear blue & red. Students graduating with honors receive gold cords, while military-affiliated students wear red, white & royal blue braided cords. Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) society members wear gold stoles or medals, and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars is honored with medals on burgundy & yellow ribbons. Student government officers and senators wear white stoles, and participants in the Open Door Project don Kente stoles in black, yellow, green & red. Turquoise & royal blue braided cords designate Student Ambassadors; teal & gold cords mark Accelerated Degree graduates; rust-colored cords recognize STEM students; and blue & silver “school spirit” cords celebrate community pride.

Faculty taking part in commencement ceremonies also wear traditional faculty regalia, including robes and hoods. The publicly available program notes that the velvet trim on the hoods aligns with academic disciplines, although the full color key is not extensively published.

Overall, Tidewater Community College promotes a unified, formal academic dress code. Their combination of a blue gown and cap, silver-and-blue tassel, plus a spectrum of honor cords and stoles, reflects both school identity and individual academic distinction. This regalia approach blends TCC tradition with meaningful recognition for its diverse student body.

Tidewater Community College Graduation Cap, Gown & Tassel Set

• Official TCC academic regalia – includes blue graduation gown, mortarboard cap & tassel.
• Blue gown and matching mortarboard cap reflecting TCC’s school colors.
• Silver-and-blue tassel included for a classic, cohesive regalia look.
• Silver stole bearing the TCC college seal for added distinction.
• Honor cords for degree-specific recognition: red/green (certificate), green/blue (AAS), red/blue (AA), brown/blue (AFA), blue/red (AS).
• Gold honor cords for students graduating with honors.
• Special cords/stoles: red, white & royal blue (military), gold PTK stole, white SGA stole, Kente cloth stole, and more.

Note: This regalia set follows TCC’s formal dress code and honors society policies for graduation ceremonies.

Tidewater Community College Academic Regalia – Cap, Gown & Tassel

• Blue graduation gown in TCC’s signature academic style.
• Matching mortarboard cap for a polished commencement look.
• Silver-and-blue tassel to complement the gown and cap.
• Silver stole with TCC college seal, included for graduating students.
• Degree-based cords: red/green, green/blue, red/blue, brown/blue, blue/red to reflect different TCC programs.
• Gold cords for honors graduates, military braided cords, PTK stole, white SGA stole, and Kente stoles available.
• Durable, ceremony-ready fabric for photo-ready presentation and keepsake wear.

Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at Tidewater Community 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.