Palo Alto University schedules an annual commencement ceremony for eligible graduates; for example, the 2025 ceremony is livestreamed per the university’s “Commencement” page, and the 2024 ceremony took place June 15, 2024.
To walk in commencement, students must complete the official “Intent to Graduate” form by April 1 of the graduation year.
PAU uses traditional academic regalia standards. According to the 2024 Commencement Program, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral gowns follow the conventional styles: bachelor and master gowns are untrimmed (with sleeve differences), while doctoral gowns include velvet facing and sleeve bars. The university notes that graduate and undergraduate candidates — as well as faculty and platform‑party officers — wear “the colorful academic regalia” during the ceremony.
Caps are mortarboards (academic‑style caps), and tassels are mentioned: the Program says that “black tassels are correct for all degrees, and colored tassels are worn only by preference,” with gold metallic tassels reserved for doctoral graduates or the president.
However — and crucially — the publicly available documents from PAU do not specify a fixed, institutional color scheme for the graduation gown itself (e.g. no official “Palo Alto blue” gown). The 2024 Commencement Program describes gown style and tassel guidelines but does not define gown or hood colors tied to degree level or discipline. Also, there is no publicly accessible policy that defines standardized honor cords, stoles, or colored tassels by honors status, discipline, or program. A review of the latest Student Handbook and public regalia information reveals no color‑coding chart for such items.
In summary: PAU enforces a formal commencement procedure — graduates must apply, order academic regalia, and participate in the official ceremony wearing cap, gown, and appropriate regalia. Regalia style (gown cut, cap, tassel placement) adheres to conventional academic‑dress norms. Yet, because PAU does not publicly publish a fixed color standard for gowns, hoods, tassels, cords or stoles by degree level or discipline, one cannot definitively state what the “graduation gown color,” “tassel/honor cord color,” or “faculty regalia color” should be for a given graduate or faculty at Palo Alto University.
Official academic‑regalia set for Palo Alto University graduation ceremonies. Includes mortarboard cap and academic gown, following PAU’s standard academic‑dress style for bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. Hoods issued where applicable.