Everything You Need to Know About Regalia

Caps, Gowns & Tassels. Your cap, gown and tassel will all be ordered for you. We'll use the height and weight that you provide on your Application to Graduate to ensure that your regalia fits you properly. You may keep all of these after the ceremony. They are nice quality, but not the finest quality in order to minimize costs to you.

Hoods. Hoods are expensive. In order to keep the graduation fee as low as possible, we will not purchase a hood for you. Rather, we will loan you a hood to use for the ceremony, but you must return your hood immediately after commencement.

Purchasing Reglia. If you would be interested in purchasing a hood, rather than borrowing one that must be returned, or if you would be interested in purchasing a fine-quality cap & gown, you can check out the Jostens website to view your options. If you decide to make a purchase, please contact Mark Baker for assistance. It will take at least two months for Jostens to make and ship your regalia, so if you would like to wear your own regalia in the commencement ceremony, it is recommended that you place your order no later than February 15, 2008.

Distribution. You will receive your cap, gown and tassel at the commencement rehearsal. We'll also loan you a hood at the rehearsal. You'll take all of your regalia home that night, and bring it to commencement on the following day. We'll ask you to return your hood immediately following the commencement ceremony.

Care of Regalia. Please plan to iron your gown prior to coming to commencement. You may also iron your hood, if needed, but do not iron the velvet portion of the hood. That may ruin the hood.

Cap, Gown & Tassel Donation. Your cap, gown and tassel will be yours to keep. However, if you do not have any use for your regalia after commencement, please feel free to donate it to Western Seminary. We maintain a supply of extra caps, gowns and tassels for special needs of students, faculty and/or guests of the seminary. We will gratefully collect donated regalia immediately after the commencement ceremony when you turn in your hood.

Your tassel will be one of three colors:

• Red is for master's level theological degrees.
• White is for the Master of Arts in Counseling degree.
• Gold is for both doctoral degrees.

Your hood will be one of two colors:

• Red is for all theological degrees. The doctoral hood is larger than the master's hood.
• White is the the Master of Arts in Counseling degree.