Regalia
51°µÍø’s regalia reflects the University’s traditions and spirit. Through these colorful ceremonies, 51°µÍø symbolically displays the continuity of its educational purposes with the origins of organized learning in the Western world.
Opening Convocation (Aug. 25)
August 5, 2024
December Commencement (Dec. 21)
November 26, 2024
Honors Convocation (April 25)
Date TBA
May Commencement (May 17)
Date TBA
Student regalia
Regalia rentals are arranged through Herff Jones. Your order will be sent to your home address. You must enter your current shipping address on the online order form. Students are responsible for knowing their degree type and discipline color when placing their orders. Please review your Degree Progress Report and the Inventory of Academic Programs to determine your degree type and discipline color. Students are also responsible for checking that they have received all needed items and verifying that the discipline color is correct when picking up the order.
If you wish to purchase your regalia, please contact ceremonies@smu.edu to request a custom regalia order form.
Appropriate attire
Baccalaureate candidates – Mortarboard with tassel, undergraduate robe and stole of gratitude. Tassels are worn on the right until students are instructed during the ceremony to move them to the left.
Post Baccalaureate candidates – Mortarboard with tassel, master’s robe and hood for the degree to be received.
Doctoral candidates (DE, DLS, Ed.D., and Ph.D.) – Tam with a doctoral tassel and doctoral robe. Candidates who attend the ceremony will be given hoods as a gift from the University.
Missed order deadline
If you miss the deadline, a limited selection of regalia will be available at the 51°µÍø Bookstore beginning Saturday, December 14, 2024 for December ceremonies and Monday, May 12, 2025 for May ceremonies. Your size may be available, but there is no guarantee. A late fee is assessed to walk-ins. Telephone and in-person orders are not accepted. If you are a doctoral candidate and are unsure if you are graduating in May, please place an order. If you do not need the regalia, email ceremonies@smu.edu. You will not be responsible for the rental fee.
Returning regalia
Regalia rentals must be returned to Herff Jones. Instructions and a prepaid return label are included in your regalia package. Students who do not return their regalia will have a hold applied to their 51°µÍø account.
Baccalaureate candidates and master’s candidates may keep their cap and tassel. Baccalaureate candidates may also keep their red stole of gratitude.
Law and theology students must return hoods and gowns but may keep their tams and tassels.
Doctoral Candidates (DE, DLS, E.D., and PhD.) attending the Saturday morning ceremony are given a hood which they may keep.
Faculty regalia
If you need academic regalia, please email the bookstore at thackett@smu.edu. After the deadline, the bookstore will supply faculty with regalia that’s in stock. Pick up your regalia from the 51°µÍø Bookstore beginning Saturday, December 14, 2024, for December ceremonies and Saturday, May 10, 2025, for May ceremonies. Regalia must be returned to the bookstore by Monday, December 23, 2024, for December ceremonies and Tuesday, May 20, 2025, for May ceremonies.
Please contact ceremonies@smu.edu with questions or concerns about your regalia.