Kirkwood Community College holds its annual commencement ceremony in May for graduates completing eligible programs in the preceding Fall, Spring, or Summer term.

Graduates who wish to participate must first apply for graduation by April 1 to have their name included in commencement materials. Then, attendees purchase their official “cap & gown set” at the campus bookstore (or online). According to the 2025 Grad Fair notice, the cap and gown set costs US $37, with the opportunity to order via the approved vendor (online orders available through April 20, 2025, with shipping).

The cap‑and‑gown set includes the standard academic gown and a mortarboard graduation cap with tassel. Kirkwood stresses that graduates must wear the approved regalia to participate — and only authorized cords, stoles or hoods from pre‑approved academic associations are allowed.

Regarding cords, stoles, tassels, or discipline‑based colour coding: publicly available Kirkwood documentation does not publish a detailed colour chart tying tassel, hood or stole colours to particular academic majors or degrees. The policy indicates that only recognized academic associations’ regalia (cords/hoods/stoles) may be worn, which suggests that any colour-coded adornments depend on membership in approved associations, not on academic major.

As for faculty — while Kirkwood’s public “Graduation / Registrar” pages are student‑oriented, standard academic‑regalia practice typically implies faculty regalia would follow conventional faculty robes/hoods; however, I found no explicit publicly available policy on faculty regalia color, hoods, or robes on the website.

In effect: for most graduates at Kirkwood Community College, the “cap and gown set” will be the standard black (or college‑standard) gown and mortarboard cap with tassel. Additional cords/stoles/hoods are permitted only if from approved associations; there is no public evidence of a discipline‑based tassel or hood‑colour scheme. This approach keeps regalia policy simple and consistent — useful for graduates, families, and vendors listing or ordering regalia.

Kirkwood Community College – Commencement & Academic Regalia

Each year Kirkwood Community College hosts a Commencement ceremony for students who complete their credentials. All participating graduates are required to order and wear the official academic attire, which includes a graduation gown and mortarboard graduation cap with tassel. ([kirkwood.edu])

How To Obtain Cap & Gown

• Apply for graduation by April 1 to be eligible. ([kirkwood.edu])
• Purchase the cap & gown set during the Grad Fair or via approved vendor — 2025 price: ~ US $37. ([kirkwood.edu])
• Pick up at campus bookstore or order shipped to your home (shipping charges apply). ([kirkwood.edu])

Standard Regalia Items

• Graduation gown (standard design)
• Mortarboard graduation cap (graduation cap)
• Tassel (included with cap)

Honor & Optional Adornments

Students eligible through recognized academic associations (honor societies, clubs) may wear approved cords, hoods, or stoles as part of their regalia. Such adornments must come from pre‑approved associations; there is no public discipline‑based colour chart for tassels, hoods, or stoles tied to academic majors. ([kirkwood.edu])

Regalia & Ceremony Guidelines

• Only approved cap, gown and authorized adornments are permitted for commencement procession. ([kirkwood.edu])
• Ineligible or unapproved modifications may result in exclusion from the ceremony. ([kirkwood.edu])

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