Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University maintains a well-defined academic regalia policy for its commencement ceremonies. According to the university’s Commencement website, graduates must wear specific academic dress to participate in the ceremony. Caps, gowns, hoods, and tassels are part of the prescribed academic regalia.

The graduation gown varies by degree level: bachelor’s and master’s candidates wear traditional Stony Brook gowns in **red**, while doctoral students wear a more elaborate gown with full velvet panels and sleeve bars. Their graduation cap is the classic mortarboard, and the tassel for doctoral graduates is **gold**, while other tassel colors generally align with degree or school traditions.

Hoods—essential for master’s and doctoral graduates—feature velvet trim and a lining that reflects both Stony Brook’s institutional colors and the graduate’s academic discipline. The color of the hood’s binding (velvet trim) signals the field of study: for example, **white** for Bachelor of Arts, **orange** for engineering, **golden yellow** for science, **peacock blue** for professional studies, and **dark blue** for philosophy. The hood length and trim width differ by degree level.

Regarding honor cords and stoles, Stony Brook’s College of Business gives out **honor stoles and cords** to its top students. However, Stony Brook does not appear to publish a unified campus‑wide stole or cord color chart in its public commencement‑regalia policy, suggesting that these accessories may be managed at the department or school level.

Faculty participating in the academic procession wear regalia that reflects their highest earned degree institution. Stony Brook does not mandate a “Stony Brook‑only” robe or hood color for faculty, so professors typically wear academic gowns and hoods in the colors from their alma mater.

In summary, Stony Brook University’s commencement attire features red gowns for bachelor’s and master’s, a gold tassel for doctoral graduates, and discipline‑specific hoods. Honor cords and stoles are awarded in some schools, but the color scheme varies by department rather than being centrally standardized. This approach blends tradition with flexibility in academic regalia.