Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, holds its annual commencement ceremony each May to honor students earning bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. The university’s registrar office coordinates cap and gown ordering: graduates complete a survey and are directed to order academic regalia; the cost for cap/gown is covered by their graduation fee, and graduates may optionally purchase affinity stoles.

When ordering, graduates can also select a blue‑and‑gold “Legacy” cord if they have family lineage at Clarke. According to the academic catalog, this cord is given to “Legacy Graduates” whose parents, grandparents, siblings, or spouses also graduated from Clarke. At the commencement rehearsal, legacy cords and commemorative buttons are distributed, and students wear them during the ceremony.

Clarke’s academic regalia emphasizes its school colors. The university’s brand guidelines list its official colors as navy (PMS 289) and gold (PMS 116), which likely influence honor accessories and event visuals. The university catalog also mentions that cords are provided at practice, but there’s no detailed public chart showing a wide variety of honor-cord or stole colors by discipline or society for every major.

Faculty regalia appears to follow standard academic tradition: faculty participants wear gowns during commencement, and doctoral faculty (when present) likely don robes consistent with academic norms (velvet facings, etc.), though Clarke does not publicly publish a detailed department‑by‑department velvet-trim color scheme.

In summary, Clarke University’s commencement is a traditional yet personalized academic event: students wear classic graduation gowns and mortarboards, may don legacy cords (blue/gold) to honor family alumni connections, and have optional affinity stoles. While honor cord colors are somewhat limited in public documentation, Clarke’s strategy respects both continuity and heritage through its regalia.

Clarke University Academic Regalia – Official Graduation Set

Celebrate your academic achievement with the Clarke University cap, gown & honor cord package — blending tradition, legacy, and sustainability.

Key Features:

• Eco-Conscious Graduation Gown: UltraGreen recycled textile gown, aligned with Clarke’s sustainability goals.
• Mortarboard Cap: Classic square cap part of the official Clarke regalia.
• Graduation Tassel: Included with cap; part of Clarke’s standard regalia set.
• Academic Hood: Doctoral hoods in emerald & white; undergrad/master hoods in Clarke’s school‑color lining (white & scarlet). ([clarku.edu](https://www.clarku.edu/commencement/wp-content/uploads/sites/292/2024/05/commencement-program-2024.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
• Honor Cord: Gold cord for undergraduates with Latin honors.
• Legacy Cord: Blue & gold cord for graduates with Clarke University family lineage.
• Optional Affinity Stoles: Stoles available for legacy or recognized Clarke affiliations.
• Faculty Regalia Included: Professors’ gowns with velvet facings; doctoral robes feature traditional sleeve bars.

Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at Clarke University, you can reach out directly to the college's administration or the office responsible for commencement and student services. They can provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding academic regalia.