Regalia
SMU’s regalia reflects the University’s traditions and spirit. Through these colorful ceremonies, SMU symbolically displays the continuity of its educational purposes with the origins of organized learning in the Western world.
Opening Convocation (Aug. 20)
July 31, 2023
December Commencement (Dec. 16)
November 16, 2023
Honors Convocation (April 19)
March 27, 2024
May Commencement (May 11)
April 15, 2024
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 SMU Bookstore beginning Saturday, December 9, 2023 for December ceremonies and Monday, May 6, 2024 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 SMU 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 fill out this form. After the deadline, the bookstore will supply faculty with regalia that’s in stock. Pick up your regalia from the SMU Bookstore beginning Saturday, December 9, 2023, for December ceremonies and Saturday, May 4, 2024, for May ceremonies. Regalia must be returned to the bookstore by Monday, December 18, 2023, for December ceremonies and Tuesday, May 14, 2024, for May ceremonies.
Please contact ceremonies@smu.edu with questions or concerns about your regalia.