The University of Arkansas (UARK) conducts its commencement ceremonies twice annually, in December for Fall graduates and May for Spring graduates. Students must submit a graduation application through their student portal, complete degree audits, and pick up their graduation gown and cap from the UARK Bookstore during Graduate Salute week.
UARK follows a degree-level system for academic regalia. Undergraduates wear a mortarboard cap and black graduation gown with a standard tassel displaying the graduation year. Master’s students wear a master’s gown, four-point mortarboard, a degree-specific tassel, and a hood in UARK colors. Doctoral graduates wear a tam, doctoral gown, tassel, and hood with velvet trim denoting their academic discipline.
Honor cords and stoles are assigned by achievement and student organization membership. For academic honors: cum laude wears a cardinal red stole, magna cum laude a white stole, and summa cum laude a white stole with cardinal-and-white cords. Registered student organizations may provide approved cords or stoles, while red and white combinations are reserved for university honors.
Faculty wear traditional faculty regalia with gowns, hoods, and caps appropriate to their terminal degrees. Velvet edging on hoods represents the academic discipline, and lining shows the institution’s colors (cardinal and white).
UARK’s commencement ceremonies emphasize formal academic tradition, with clear guidance for graduation gowns, caps, tassels, honor cords, stoles, and faculty regalia. Graduates should consult the Registrar’s Office or the official commencement program to ensure correct color-coding of regalia according to honors, degree, and affiliation.
Gear up for your UARK commencement with a complete regalia set – designed to meet University of Arkansas standards for graduation gowns, caps, and tassels according to the degree you’re earning.
Make sure to pick up your regalia during Graduate Salute at the University Bookstore, and verify your honor stole / cord color with your academic department. UARK’s commencement policy requires specific regalia color-coding and restricts certain adornments (caps may only be decorated on top).
Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at University of Arkansas , 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.