University of Houston Downtown

The University of Houston–Downtown (UHD) commencement ceremony is a formal academic event where all graduates wear official academic regalia. Students from all colleges, including the Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, must wear a graduation gown and mortarboard cap. Bachelor’s graduates wear a classic black gown with the tassel on the right side before the degree is conferred, moving it to the left afterward. Master’s graduates wear a black gown with an academic hood lined in UHD’s official colors, dark blue and red, with velvet trim indicating their field of study. Doctoral graduates wear a velvet-trimmed gown with hoods featuring UHD’s blue and red lining, and tassels often in gold to signify the highest academic distinction.

Academic honors are recognized with honor cords: combined red and white cords for Summa Cum Laude, red cords for Magna Cum Laude, and white cords for Cum Laude. Graduates may also wear stoles to indicate membership in honor societies or other distinctions. Faculty participating in commencement wear traditional academic regalia, including velvet-trimmed gowns and hoods reflecting their highest earned degree and discipline.

All UHD regalia — including caps, gowns, tassels, hoods, honor cords, and stoles — must be ordered in advance through Herff Jones or the UHD Bookstore. The ceremony follows traditional academic protocols, with tassel movement, faculty procession, and hooding ceremonies for graduate students. UHD’s system of academic regalia ensures a dignified and cohesive appearance for all graduates, honoring their achievements and maintaining the university’s commencement traditions.

UHD Graduation Regalia – University of Houston–Downtown

Celebrate your UHD commencement with the official academic regalia: black graduation gown, mortarboard cap, discipline-appropriate tassel, hood (for master’s), and Latin honor cords or stoles.

Bachelor’s Regalia: Black gown + cap, tassel begins on right, moved left at conferral; honor cords: red/white (Summa), red (Magna), white (Cum Laude).
Master’s Regalia: Black gown, custom hood lined in dark blue and red satin, discipline-specific trim; honor cords or stoles for academic distinction.
Doctoral Regalia: Velvet‑trimmed doctoral gown, academic hood with binding by discipline, tassel per UHD style protocol.
Faculty Regalia: Traditional faculty robes with velvet facings, hoods lined in red and dark blue, binding by field.
Discipline Color Scheme: UHD uses intercollegiate academic color codes: e.g., engineering (orange), social work (citron), public administration (peacock blue), business (drab), etc.
Order & Ceremony Guidelines: Order regalia via Herff Jones or UHD Bookstore; tassel placement, honor cord distribution, and hooding follow formal commencement protocol.

With official UHD academic regalia, your graduation look is elegant, consistent, and reflective of your academic journey at the University of Houston–Downtown.

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