Regalia and Etiquette
Commencement participants are required to wear regalia. See details below for how to order caps and gowns, important deadlines, recommended attire and more.
All degree candidates who are eligible to participate in Commencement or Convocations must secure regalia, including a cap, gown and tassel, prior to Commencement weekend.
This includes December 2025, May 2026 and August 2026 graduation candidates and students who petitioned their school or college to participate in commencement weekend ceremonies.
Undergraduate degree candidates can preorder their cap, gown and tassel for pickup at the Campus Store in the Schine Student Center during the dates and times listed below. The deadline to preorder undergraduate regalia for pickup during the Grad Fair is March 12. SUID will be required for regalia pickup.
Master’s and doctoral regalia are available to order online for delivery or in-store pickup. The deadline to order master’s and doctoral regalia and ensure delivery before Commencement weekend is April 5. However, we recommend you order your regalia as early as possible and account for shipping time.
Souvenir accessories for all degree levels will also be available.
Undergraduate Regalia In-Store Pickup Pick-Up Schedule for Regalia during the Grad Fair:
- Wednesday, April 8: Campus Store from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Thursday, April 9: Campus Store from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Friday, April 10: Campus Store from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
**Remember to bring your student I.D.**
Additional in-store pickup will be available during regular Campus Store hours following the Grad Fair dates and will continue through Commencement weekend.
Campus Store hours for Commencement weekend will be:
- Friday, May 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Saturday, May 9 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Sunday, May 10 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Additional information regarding store hours, diploma frames and more can be found on the Campus Store Website. If you have any questions about regalia, you can contact John Cusick at the Campus Store via email at jocusick@syr.edu.
Etiquette and Attire
Commencement in the JMA Wireless Dome will accommodate all guests comfortably. While a spirit of joy and enthusiasm is encouraged, the dignity of this important occasion should not be devalued. Please be courteous to all speakers.
Candidates and guests may not bring bottles, sparklers, firecrackers, or any objects that might present danger or disrupt the Commencement ceremony. Helium balloons are not permitted in the JMA Wireless Dome or Lally Athletics Complex. Syracuse University is a smoke- and tobacco-free campus. Smoking and the use of all tobacco products is prohibited on property owned, operated, or controlled by the University, indoors and out. Full policy available here.
We ask you to help make Commencement at Syracuse University a proud moment for all attendees.
Clear Bag Policy in Effect
Syracuse University has a clear bag policy (view details) which will be in effect for Commencement weekend. Metal-detecting devices will be used at all ceremonies, School/College Convocations and Commencement at all JMA Wireless Dome entry gates, Lally Athletics Complex, Hendricks Chapel, NVRC and Schine Student Center for both graduates and guests.
Prohibited Items
To ensure that all guests have a safe and enjoyable visit, the following items are not permitted in our facilities:
- Air Horns & Noisemakers
- Alcoholic Beverages or Illegal Drugs
- Amplified Sound Devices
- Animals (excluding certified service animals)
- Backpacks
- Balloons & Confetti
- Banners, Signs and Flags
- Cameras (w/ a 6" zoom lens or greater)
- Coolers (including small soft sided coolers)
- Food & Beverages (except for special needs)
- GoPro Cameras/Selfie Stick
- Laptops/iPad/Tripod
- Large Purse or Bags
- Laser Pointers
- Open Water Bottles
- Pocketknives or Knives of Any Kind
- Skateboards or Frisbees
- Sports Balls of Any Kind
Graduation caps decorated with content deemed to be offensive or discriminatory are prohibited and may be confiscated.
Proper Attire
Regalia is required to participate in ceremonies hosted throughout Commencement weekend, including all school/college convocations and Commencement. Indigenous and Native American tribal regalia is welcomed as approved regalia for all Syracuse University commencement ceremonies.
- Undergraduate regalia consists of a navy gown, mortarboard cap and tassel.
- Master’s regalia consists of a black gown, hood, mortarboard cap and tassel.
- Doctoral regalia consists of a doctoral gown, hood, tam and tassel.
- Honor cords and/or stoles are bestowed by school/college/units to graduate candidates that have received specific honors.
For undergraduate degree candidates, tassels are worn on the right side of the cap before the ceremony and are then moved from the right side to the left once your degree is conferred. For Master’s and Doctoral degree candidates, tassels should be worn on the left side of the cap and remains there during the entire Commencement ceremony.
Additional Information on Syracuse University Regalia
SU Bachelor’s Mortarboards
All graduates have a navy mortarboard cap with a colored tassel that corresponds to their school and a signet that indicates the year.
SU Master’s Degree Hoods
Master’s degree recipients wear a hood with velvet trim that denotes their field of study.
- School of Architecture – Lavender
- College of Arts & Sciences M.A. – White
- College of Arts & Sciences M.S. – Gold
- College of Arts & Sciences M.F.A. – White
- David B. Falk College of Sport – Citron
- College of Engineering & Computer Science – Orange
- Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs M.A. – White
- Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs M.S. – Gold
- Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs MPA – Peacock Blue
- S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications – Maroon
- College of Visual and Performing Arts M.A. Museum Studies – White
- College of Visual and Performing Arts M.A. Audio Arts – White
- College of Visual and Performing Arts M.A. Communication & Rhetorical Studies – Silver
- College of Visual and Performing Arts M.F.A. – Brown
- College of Visual and Performing Arts M.S. Art Therapy - Gold
- College of Visual and Performing Arts SETNOR (Music Performance Degree) – Pink
- School of Education – Powder Blue
- School of Education (Music Education Degree) – Powder Blue
- School of Information Studies – Lemon Yellow
- Martin J. Whitman School of Management – Drab
- College of Law LLM – Purple
SU Master’s Mortarboards
All graduates have a black mortarboard cap with a black tassel without a signet that indicates the year to distinguish Master’s candidates from the Bachelor’s candidates.
SU Doctoral Hoods
Doctoral degree recipients wear a black hood with velvet trim that denotes their degree, and an orange satin inner lining for Syracuse University's color.
- Arts – White Velvet
- Education – Light Blue Velvet
- Philosophy – Dark Blue Velvet
- Audiology – Spruce Green Velvet
- Juris – Purple Velvet
SU Doctoral Tams
Syracuse University Doctoral graduates wear an 8-sided Tam w/gold tassel.
