The graduation ceremony is a festive occasion, but also a formal academic event. The celebration manifests itself in the dress of the students and faculty adorned in academic regalia, and the joy and satisfaction of accomplishment. The ceremony is also marked by seriousness where the actual conferring of degrees signifies the hard work of everyone involved: students, faculty, administrators, and family. Because of the serious nature of the ceremony, students and their guests are expected to maintain a measure of decorum consistent with the occasion.

Dress Code Guidelines:

• Eligible graduates who are participating in the May 17, 2025, Commencement Ceremony are required to wear the designated Graduation Regalia which includes the Cap with Tassel, Gown, and Stole.
• Graduation Regalia online ordering will open March 3, 2025
• Comfortable soft-soled shoes are recommended (need to be able to walk across the stage).
• Real flowers are not to be pinned or placed on caps, gowns, or clothing and should not be carried by graduates, out of respect for those with allergies.
• The mortarboard (academic hat) is to be worn with the front point over the forehead below the front hairline so that the mortarboard is parallel to the floor. (Not worn on the back of the head with the mortarboard pointing upward.) Tassel hangs on the right.
• Graduates may decorate their mortarboard if they would like. Such decorations should be in good taste, be a positive representation of HCC and our academic programs, and be family-friendly (since graduation is a family event). Mortarboard decorations should be limited to the graduation cap. Graduates with mortarboard decorations that do not meet these guidelines may be asked to remove their decorations prior to the ceremony.
• Graduates should NOT have personal belongings in their possession during the Commencement Ceremony. If necessary, personal items can be left with friends or family members during the ceremony.
• Graduates must wear the tassel on the right side of the mortarboard, hanging near the right eye. After the degrees/certificates are conferred, the tassel is shifted to the left side. The signal for shifting the tassel will be given by the President.
• PTK pins may be worn because they are academic emblems; no other jewelry should be on the gown. PTK students will wear a gold sash. The gold and blue cords should be worn over the sash.
• Veterans may wear the red, white, and blue cords provided by the HCC Veterans Club.
• Only PTK and Veterans/Active Military may wear designated graduation cords and only PTK may wear designated PTK stoles. Each year, other students and/or student groups request permission to don cords or stoles that are not designated for PTK or Veteran/Active Military graduates and these requests are always denied out of fairness to all graduates. Please plan accordingly and do not make such requests.