Cap & Gown, Announcements, and Graduation Accessories
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Cap and Gown
All graduating students are issued Rockhurst regalia for hooding, pinning, and commencement events. For all degrees, "regalia" includes a cap and gown, with special hoods and attire to denote completing a Master's or Doctoral degree. Regalia is issued atÌýno cost to the student and is the required dress code for Commencement, Hooding, Pinning, and Commencement Mass.ÌýÌý
Students graduating with a Master's or Doctoral degree will receive a Hood with their regalia. Please bring this hood with you to the Hooding ceremony and Commencement ceremony.Ìý
Graduates will receive a link to order their graduation regalia in their HAWKSÌýemail account before commencement, with strict order deadlines to ensure that regalia is delivered on time to every student. Emails to students are sent as follows:
- Those with Master's or Doctoral degree will receive an email in the fall for the December hooding ceremony and in the spring for the May hooding ceremony. Hooding ceremonies are different from the May commencement ceremony.
- Undergraduates with nursing degrees will receive an email in the fall for the December pinning ceremony and in the spring for the May pinning ceremony.
- Undergraduate degrees will receive an email for the commencement ceremony in the spring.
- If you have not received this email by the beginning of April andÌýstill need to order your cap and gown, please get in touch withÌýgraduation@rockhurst.eduÌý´¡³§´¡±Ê.Ìý
What is included in your regalia package:
- Associate Degree:Ìý Blue tassel, flat black mortarboard sure-fit cap, black gown
- Bachelor's Degree:ÌýÌýBlue & White tassel, flat black mortarboardÌýsure-fit cap, black gown
- Master Degree:Ìý Black tassel, flat black mortarboardÌýsure-fit cap, black gown with extended sleeve drape, and Hood with specific velvet discipline color:
- EMBA, MA, MS, MBA Business degrees:Ìý Drab colored velvet hood with RU blue & white satin
- MED Education degrees:Ìý Light blue colored velvet hoodÌýwith RU blue & white satin
- MSN Nursing degrees: Apricot-colored velvet hoodÌýwith RU blue & white satin
- Doctoral Degrees:Ìý (see specific discipline colors below)
- DPT Physical Therapy degrees:Ìý Short fat gold tassel on Teal velvet tam, black gown with three Teal velvet sleeve stripes, Teal velvet hood with RU blue & white satin
- EdD Education degrees:Ìý Short fat gold tassel on BlackÌývelvet tam, black gown with three Light Blue velvet sleeve stripes, Light Blue velvet hood with RU blue & white satin
- OTD Occupational Therapy degrees:Ìý Short fat gold tassel on BlackÌývelvet tam, black gown with three black velvet sleeve stripes, InkÌývelvet hood with RU blue & white satin
All graduating students wear their tassels on the right of their caps until their degree is conferred at the Commencement Ceremony.Ìý All graduates ceremoniously move their tassels from the right to the left as an entire class at the direction of the President following completion of the degree conferrals.
Graduation Cap Decoration Guidelines
Decorations on graduation caps (mortar boards) symbolize pride and accomplishment. The decorations represent a personalized statement about accomplishments that can be presented as a quote, images, or other things.
To ensure that commencement exercises remain dignified celebrations of the achievement of all students, the following rules must be followed when decorating caps for graduation:
- Decorations should not interfere with attaching the tassel to the cap.
- Only the flat-top black cap may be decorated.Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý
- Decorations may not hang off the sides of the cap.Ìý Ìý
- Large 3-D embellishments may interfere with the view of students seated behind you and are, therefore, prohibited.Ìý Ìý
- Graduation caps must not haveÌýadvertisements, symbols, words, or slogans conveyingÌýinappropriate at a dignified commencement ceremony.Ìý
- Caps must not threaten the safety of others or use any hate speech of any kind.Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý
- Caps must be consistent with the code of conduct for °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ¿ª½±.
- Obscene, profane, or vulgar language is expressly prohibited.Ìý Ìý Ìý
- Words or items diminishing or slandering toward any individual or institution, University, faculty or staff member, and/orÌýstudent are prohibited on graduation caps.Ìý
- Decorations are prohibited on the academic gown and hood.
Graduation AnnouncementsÌý
Herff Jones has a variety of graduation announcements (invitations) and Rockhurst commencement memorabilia, including class rings, diploma covers, and more, available to graduates and their guests. To order, visit this Ìý
Doctoral Graduation AccessoriesÌý
Students graduating with Doctoral degrees have more elaborate commencement regalia. Watch this Ìýto learn how to dress in your Doctoral regalia!
Foot Wear
We do suggest that students refrain from wearing high heels. The procession from the lower level of the MunicipalÌýAuditorium to the main level is a walk. You will also be maneuvering stairs during the event, and immediately following the ceremony, students will begin the HAWK walk.