Regalia

Ordering Caps and Gowns

Simmons University regalia is now available to order through Oak Hall. The general deadline for ordering regalia is April 22, 2025. The deadline for ordering fine-quality regalia for doctorate and PhD candidates is March 14, 2025.

Participants are encouraged to review our standards related to the academic regalia and adornments worn. The policy applies to baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral graduates of Simmons University.

Gown Borrowing Program

Due to the gracious donations of previous alumni, the REEF Support Center has a small collection of graduation gowns available to students currently experiencing financial barriers to purchasing a cap and gown. Our selection includes undergraduate and graduate gowns only, with a small selection of Masters hoods. We welcome any undergraduate or graduate student who is concerned about their ability to purchase their graduation attire to reach out to the REEF Support Center at [email protected]. Our online request form will be available from April 1 — May 1 as supplies last.

Community Clothing Rack: Regalia Borrowing Form

We have a limited supply of gowns and sizes at any given time. We ask that students who can purchase their gowns from the Bookstore do so. As our selection is limited, we appreciate your understanding that we may be unable to fulfill all requests.

Adornments (cords, stoles, and pins)

Approved Cords and Stoles (University Purchased)

The University will purchase cords for Bachelor’s candidates with the following academic honors. Cords/Stoles are used to indicate academic honors and are not to be used for other purposes:

• Academy: Blue and Gold Cord (UG)
• Honors Program: Blue and White Cord (UG)
• Latin Honors: Red, Silver, and Gold Cords (UG)
• Dotson Scholar: Stole (UG)
• NCAA Honor Society: Stole (UG)
• Kotzen Scholar: Light Blue and Dark Blue Cord (UG)
• Boston Scholars: Dark Blue and Red Cord (UG)

Approved Honor Membership Cords & Pins (Student Purchased)

Students may purchase the following academic honor membership cords on their own. Please note that university funds may not be used to purchase honor membership cords. 

Alpha Sigma Lambda	Purchase Here
Beta Gamma Sigma	Purchase Here
Alpha Delta Sigma	Purchase Here
SigmaTheta Tau (Nursing)	Purchase Here
Biology Beta Beta Beta	Purchase Here
English Sigma Tau Delta	Purchase Here
Computer Science Pledge of the Computer Professional	Purchase Here
French Pi Delta Phi	Purchase Here
Mathematics Pi Mu Epsilon	Purchase Here
Psychology Psi Chi	Purchase Here
Sciences Sigma Xi	Individual Membership
Social Work (Undergraduate) Phi Alpha	Purchase Here
Sociology Alpha Kappa Delta	Purchase Here

Approved Affinity Stoles (Student Purchased)

Students are welcome to purchase cultural, ethnic, or affinity stoles as part of their Commencement regalia that best represents their identity. Reputable vendors such as Midwest Global Group offer a wide variety of stoles, including but not limited to AAPI Stoles, First Gen Stoles, Kente Stoles, LGBTQIA Stoles, Mexican Serape Stoles, Native American / Indigenous Stoles, Puente Stoles. 

Candidates can also buy a standard Simmons stole through the Simmons Bookstore, which is white and displays “Simmons University” along with the university seal, available at the bookstore.

Any attire featuring inflammatory, harmful, hostile messages, hate speech, or implied threats will not be permitted during the ceremony and must be removed.

Donate Your Regalia after Commencement

Are you looking to give away your graduation regalia? Make a lasting impact on future generations of Simmons graduates by donating your regalia to the REEF Support Center Gown Borrowing Program. By passing on your gown, you are supporting our efforts to expand our free gown-borrowing program and mitigate barriers to graduation!

We gratefully accept Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral gowns, including hoods. Regalia can be dropped off in person or mailed to the REEF Support Center, located in room A-085 on the lower level of the Main College Building (across from the Fens Cafe). Please reach out to the REEF Center at [email protected] with any questions.