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 at no cost to the student and is the required dress code for Commencement and Commencement Mass.
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 ceremonies, as you will be officially hooded onstage.
Graduates will receive a link to order their graduation regalia in their Rockhurst email account several months before commencement, with strict order deadlines to ensure that regalia is delivered on time to every student. Emails to students are sent as follows:
- 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 and 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 and still need to order your cap and gown, please contact graduation@rockhurst.edu ASAP.
What is included in your regalia package:
- Associate Degree: Blue tassel with commemorative year charm, flat black mortarboard sure-fit cap, black gown
- Bachelor's Degree: Blue and white tassel with commemorative year charm, flat black mortarboard sure-fit cap, black gown
- Master's Degree: Black tassel with commemorative year charm, flat black mortarboard sure-fit cap, black gown with extended sleeve drape and hood with specific velvet discipline color:
- EMBA, MA, MS, MBA Business degrees — Drab colored velvet hood with RU blue and white satin
- M.Ed. degrees — Light blue colored velvet hood with RU blue and white satin
- MOT degrees — Sage green colored velvet hood with RU blue and white satin
- MSN Nursing degrees — Apricot-colored velvet hood with RU blue and white satin
- Doctoral Degrees: (see specific discipline colors below)
- DPT Physical Therapy degrees — Short fat gold tassel on Teal velvet tam, black gown with three Teal velvet sleeve stripes, Teal velvet hood with RU blue & white satin
- Ed.D. Education degrees — Short fat gold tassel on black velvet tam, black gown with three light blue velvet sleeve stripes, light blue velvet hood with RU blue and white satin
- OTD degrees — Short fat gold tassel on black velvet tam, black gown with three black velvet sleeve stripes, Sage velvet hood with RU blue and white satin
All graduating students wear their tassels on the right of their caps until their degree is conferred at the commencement ceremony. 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.
Flat black mortarboard caps may be tastefully decorated by the student if so desired; inappropriately designed caps will be removed and discarded without replacement at the commencement ceremony.
Graduation Announcements
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 link.
Doctoral Graduation Accessories
Students graduating with doctoral degrees have more elaborate commencement regalia. Watch this quick video to learn how to dress in your doctoral regalia!