Preparing for College Graduation: Ceremony, Regalia, and Grad Student Checklist

History of Commencement and Ceremony Traditions

College commencements hold a long-standing tradition of academic achievements, awards, and major life transitions for students. A centuries-old rite of passage that can be traced back to the 12th century in European institutions. The term “commencement” means “to start” or “beginning of something new” and to graduate means to “step” into the next stage of life. For many, commencement may look like a sea of more-or-less uniform black gowns, but those who look closely can tell where the graduate earned their degree, what degree they earned, what honors they earned during their degree, and in what field they earned their degree.

Academic Regalia

Guests who have attended or students who have participated in a ceremony themselves are familiar with the apparel that goes along with it but may not understand the history or significance of each item that appears at the ceremony. Long gowns, hoods, and caps with tassels of various colors are all part of the standard apparel for commencement ceremonies. Some of the attire, also known as academic “regalia,” dates to the 12th century when graduation and commencement ceremonies originated.

Each gown, hood, cap, and tassel symbolize or represent that individual's academic achievements and affiliations with the university. For most universities, the gown will be black or their primary university color for undergraduate students, while graduate student gowns have more detailing and color significance to distinguish master students, educational specialist and doctoral students.

Master’s Regalia

Master’s level gowns usually have long, extended sleeves. Historically, those sleeves could have been used as pockets. The headgear for master’s regalia is traditionally the square mortarboard cap. During commencement, master students will wear their cap and place their tassel on the left. The master’s hood is a modern interpretation of the hooded robes worn by medieval monks who taught in the early universities. The master’s hood is 3.5 feet long and features a three-inch velvet trim that indicates the graduate’s academic discipline. The inside of the hood, displayed on the graduate’s back, shows the colors of the student's discipline.

Doctoral Regalia

At the doctoral level, regalia consists of a more elaborate gown with a five-inch velvet panel down the front and three velvet bars on each sleeve. The velvet trim on a doctoral gown indicates the degree and academic discipline of the graduate. Some schools choose a color other than black for their doctoral regalia. The doctoral hood, like the master’s hood, features the colors of the graduate’s university on the inside and the color of the academic discipline on the outside. The doctoral headgear is traditionally a soft tam. Some tams have four corners while others have six corners. The style of tam is determined by the school from which one graduates.

"Commencement day is a time of great pride and joy," notes interim dean Juan Casas. "It is a time to celebrate with family and friends and reflect on all that you have accomplished by persevering and working hard. We are immensely proud of each graduate and look forward to the professional contributions you will make, the achievements you will reach, and the ways you will enrich your community and this world. UNO will always have your back and we hope you will look to this institution as your home for lifelong learning. Remember, once a Maverick, always a Maverick!”

Traditions: Caps, Tassels, Cords and Stoles

As commencement ceremonies conclude, many universities have adopted the tradition of graduates throwing their cap in the air. This tradition started at the US Naval Academy in 1912, when graduates were given their new officer hats, deeming their midshipmen hats unnecessary, prompting them to toss the old ones into the air as a form of celebration. The tradition stuck at the academy and quickly became a tradition at other institutions. The act of throwing caps in the air is now widely known as a symbolic act to end a chapter of the graduate’s life.

The use of a tassel dates to the 14th century in European universities and was used to represent distinct levels of academic achievements. This symbolism has now been given to graduation honor cords, medals, and hoods which denote specific achievements and level of degree. Today, various universities will use colored tassels to represent the specific discipline the graduate is representing. The gesture of moving the tassel from one side of the cap to the other symbolizes the individual’s movement from student to graduate.

Stoles are an additional piece of regalia that graduates will wear to represent affiliations with organizations on campus, such as sororities, fraternities, or academic honor societies. Honor cords for graduation are a specific-colored piece of rope worn around the neck. Each honor cord serves as a symbol of academic achievement and personal merit, a tradition which dates back hundreds of years.

Participating in Commencement

Graduation is a monumental moment in which students feel their time in academics is complete and their time as young professionals begins. Many undergraduates and graduate students partake in the exciting day of commencement. Students will wear their respective regalia to present their achievements amongst their peers and family at the ceremony.

UNO Commencement

For those who are graduating from UNO as graduate students, we have put together a simple graduation checklist to help get to the finish line and cross that stage with a diploma in hand.

Graduate Student Graduation Checklist Overview

• Step 1: Apply for graduation online
• Step 2: Expect to receive an email from the office of Graduate Studies
• Step 3: Complete requirements
• Step 4: Purchase academic regalia
• Step 5: Attend commencement
• Step 6: Ensure you receive your diploma
• Step 7: Connect with your fellow UNO Alumni

Explore our full graduation checklist online.

Undergrad Graduates - What’s Next?

For undergrad students gearing up to celebrate their baccalaureate degree, there are many routes they can take as the next chapter of life begins. For some, they may want to continue their higher education and explore a master’s program or graduate certificate.

Most students continue their higher education and earn their master’s degree or a graduate certificate for the potential of earning higher salaries and to be considered for more prestigious job opportunities. Some choose to pursue their higher education journey to continue or begin their research or creative activities at the graduate level. Here at UNO, we offer over 90+ graduate level programs and various scholarship and affordability options for graduate students.

About UNO Office of Graduate Studies

The UNO Office of Graduate Studies has more than 110 years of experience educating professionals and academics, and helping individuals succeed in their careers. The mission of the Office of Graduate Studies is to develop, enhance, and promote outstanding graduate education; to ensure a rich environment for learning, creative activity, and the discovery and communication of new knowledge; and to be recognized for excellence in regional, national, and global engagement and contributions. With over 90 graduate programs at all levels, UNO has numerous opportunities.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness, and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.