Trident Technical College Commencement & Academic Regalia

Trident Technical College (TTC) hosts annual commencement ceremonies, primarily at the end of the spring term, to celebrate student achievement and academic excellence. Graduates are required to wear official academic regalia, including a cap and gown, prior to participating in the ceremony. All regalia must be picked up in advance from the TTC Bookstore, and no extra regalia is provided on the day of graduation.

The graduation cap at TTC is the traditional mortarboard, and tassels are typically black or discipline-specific, with doctoral tassels often in gold. The academic hood incorporates colors representing each academic division: light blue for Education, drab for Accounting, orange for Engineering, white for Arts & Humanities, and other colors corresponding to respective fields of study.

TTC recognizes academic honors with medallions rather than cords. Summa Cum Laude graduates receive a gold medallion, Magna Cum Laude receive silver, and Cum Laude receive bronze. Members of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society are allowed to wear gold stoles, gold cords, and an honor medallion. Additional honors include white cords for dual-credit high school graduates and red, white, and blue cords for military or veteran graduates.

Faculty regalia at TTC follows traditional academic standards: faculty members wear robes corresponding to their highest earned degree, with hoods colored according to their academic discipline, ensuring consistency and professionalism during the procession.

Overall, Trident Technical College’s commencement and academic regalia emphasize tradition, clarity, and recognition of academic achievement. Graduates wear a standardized cap and gown, discipline-specific hoods and tassels, and optional honor items as allowed by the college. This structured approach ensures a dignified and unified appearance for both graduates and faculty during the ceremony.