Cypress College

Cypress College holds its annual commencement in late May, typically in the Gateway Plaza beside the campus pond, to honor students who have completed their associate degrees or certificates. Participation in the ceremony requires purchasing academic regalia: a graduation gown, mortarboard cap, and tassel package is mandatory. The college makes these cap-gown-tassel sets available for order through its bookstore, with the most recent price listed as $26 plus tax/shipping for the regalia package.

In addition to the basic regalia, honor cords are available for those who meet academic achievement criteria. As per the 2024 announcement, honor cords cost $11 through the same order process. On top of that, Cypress College offers free pathway sashes distributed in the week or two before commencement. These sashes reflect various academic pathways (e.g., business, fine arts, sciences) and are provided by Student Life & Leadership.

The institution strongly emphasizes regalia etiquette: graduates must arrive behind the Student Center in full regalia, including mortarboard and gown, and join their academic pathway cohort before the procession begins. There is no publicly documented color-coding scheme for tassels, honor cords, or stoles on the Cypress College website or catalog; the publicly available materials only mention generic regalia without discipline-specific academic dress, hood colors, or faculty regalia patterns.

For faculty and staff, specific regalia color information (such as for hoods or velvet trim) is not provided in publicly available Cypress College commencement handbooks or catalogs. Cypress College’s “Commencement Central” focuses on student regalia logistics, RSVP, and distribution of pathway sashes.

In summary, Cypress College’s graduation regalia tradition is simple yet formal: a black gown and mortarboard cap, mandatory tassel, optional honor cord, and a free academic pathway sash — without elaborate color distinctions or discipline-based regalia customizations.

Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at Cypress College, 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.