Regalia & Accessories

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Regalia

Accessories 

Academic Regalia

All Commencement participants are required to wear regalia to Commencement. Complimentary regalia is provided by the college for all eligible graduands in good academic standing with no outstanding student account balances.

Regalia consists of a black cap & gown, graduating year red & navy tassel and a school-specific hood embroidered with the SMC logo. Hood colors are determined by the School in which you are graduating. See the below table for your hood color.

Regalia is available for pick up at Grad Fair on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. If you are unable to attend Grad fair, you may order your reGAELia online and have it shipped to your preferred address starting Wednesday, March 11 and will close on April 15th, 2026.

Requests for regalia after the deadline will incur additional fees; sizing and availability not guaranteed.

Regalia Deadline: April 15th, 2026

If you have missed the regalia deadline, please contact commencement@stmarys-ca.edu.

Grad Fair Savings: Purchase a discounted Diploma Frame, SMC Stole and Zipper pull at Grad Fair! Visit our Regalia vendor’s site for details. This discount offer is only available at Grad Fair. 

SchoolHood Trim Color
Kalmanovitz School of Education (KSOE)Education: Blue
School of Economics & Business Administration (SEBA)Business: Drab
School of Liberal Arts (SOLA)Arts: White
School of Science (SOS)Science: Gold

Step by Step Instructions

 

  1. Start by putting on your black gown over your Commencement outfit
  2. Put on your Latin Honors Medallion (if applicable)
  3. Put on your Honor Cord, Veteran Cord or Department Cord (if applicable)
  4. Drape your SMC stole, custom stole and/or any other approved affiliate stoles you wish to wear
  5. Lastly, put on your Hood - did you watch the video? Your academic hood not only represents your School, it also helps keep everything else in place
    1. The loop on the front of the hood may be placed over a button on a button down shirt, or it can be pinned to the clothing under your gown
  6. Leis of any kind should be worn on top of your Academic Regalia
  7. Lastly, you'll put on your cap:
    1. Line up the front point of your cap with the center of your forehead and pull back as you would put on a sports cap
    2. Many may find it helpful to attach a cap companion (available from Jostens) or a headband to the underside of the cap. Bobby pins are also or used to keep the cap in place
  8. Place your tassel over the button and on the right side of your cap
    1. After your have crossed the stage, the degrees will be conferred, and you will move your tassel from the right to the left near the end of the Commencement ceremony
  1. Start by putting on your black gown over your Commencement outfit
  2. Put on your Latin Honors Medallion (if applicable)
  3. Put on your Honor Cord, Veteran Cord or Department Cord (if applicable)
  4. Drape your SMC stole, custom stole and/or any other approved affiliate stoles you wish to wear
  5. Lastly, put on your Hood - did you watch the video? Your academic hood not only represents your School, it also helps keep everything else in place
    1. The loop on the front of the hood may be placed over a button on a button down shirt, or it can be pinned to the clothing under your gown
  6. You may wear discipline and/or your Honor Cord (if applicable) over your hood
  7. Leis of any kind should be worn on top of your Academic Regalia
  8. Lastly, you'll put on your cap:
    1. Line up the front point of your cap with the center of your forehead and pull back as you would put on a sports cap
    2. Many may find it helpful to attach a cap companion (available from Jostens) or a headband to the underside of the cap. Bobby pins are also or used to keep the cap in place
  9. Place your tassel over the button and on the right side of your cap
    1. After your have crossed the stage, the degrees will be conferred, and you will move your tassel from the right to the left near the end of the Commencement ceremony
  1. Start by putting on your black gown over your Commencement outfit
  2. Put on your Latin Honors Medallion (if applicable)
  3. Put on your Honor Cord, Veteran Cord or Department Cord (if applicable)
  4. Drape your SMC stole, custom stole and/or any other approved affiliate stoles you wish to wear
    1. After you are hooded on stage, everything will stay in place more easily, so pay attention to your accessories until then
  5. Leis of any kind should be worn on top of your Academic Regalia - try not to wear too many since you will be hooded. Leis can easily be added after you are hooded, if you leave them at your chair.
  6. Lastly, you'll put on your tam:
    1. Line up the front point of your tam with the center of your forehead and pull back as you would put on a sports cap
    2. Many may find it helpful to attach a cap companion (available from Jostens) or a headband to the underside of the cap. Bobby pins are also or used to keep the cap in place
  7. Place your tassel over the button and on the right side of your tam
    1. After your have crossed the stage, the degrees will be conferred, and you will move your tassel from the right to the left near the end of the Commencement ceremony

Doctoral Candidates are hooded on stage: Carry your hood with you draped over your right arm and present it to the faculty member who will hood you on stage. 

  • You will be offered a seat to sit in while you are hooded
  • You will have only a few seconds to tuck in the hood string prior to your photo, so please do that before you rise for your photo. Unzipping your gown should not be necessary.

Accessories 

Celebrate your achievement and complete your Commencement look with official Saint Mary’s accessories and keepsakes.

Graduates and families may purchase the following items through our vendors:

  • Saint Mary’s apparel, alumni merchandise, gifts, and memorabilia available through the Saint Mary’s College Bookstore
  • Commencement regalia, diploma frames, class rings, announcements, and additional keepsakes available through Jostens
  • Custom stoles available through CollegeWear
  • Fresh celebratory leis available for purchase through Congratulei

     

We encourage early ordering to ensure availability prior to Commencement Weekend.