Cap/Gown, Name Card & Tickets
Graduating students, please review all of the below FAQs in order to receive your:
- Graduation Regalia (cap, gown, hood, cords, etc.),
- Name Card, and
- Guest Tickets (required for the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony only)
Note: Instructions will be emailed to eligible Providence-based students when it is time to complete these activities.
Which students are eligible to participate and walk in 2025 Commencement?
- Students who are REGISTERED for the Spring 2025 Semester and have a Spring 2025, Summer 2025, or Fall 2025 graduation date.
- And, students who are awarded a degree for the Fall 2024 Semester.
How do I receive my cap, gown & hood?
- Please complete an online order before March 3, 2025.
- Your order may be shipped home, to a specified address, or to the campus bookstore and held for pickup.
- JWU does not have a graduation fee; however, students must purchase their cap, gown & hood:
- 2025 associate degree regalia is $43 (no graduation hood needed)
- 2025 bachelor's degree regalia is $75 (includes graduation hood)
- 2025 master's degree regalia is $84 (includes graduation hood)
- All degree recipients except AS degree candidates will receive a graduation hood, which is a piece of academic regalia worn during graduation to symbolize a person's academic achievement and degree; they indicate the wearer's degree, discipline, and institution, and vary in length, shape, and color:
- Gold for Arts; Drab for Business, Commerce, Fine Arts, Sciences; Light Blue for Education; Slate Blue for Occupational Therapy; Green for Physician Assistant Studies
- Exchanges and purchases can be made in person at the campus bookstore.
How do I wear my graduation regalia?
- To remove wrinkles, tumble dry your gown on low in a dryer and then place it on a hanger (DO NOT IRON).
- Under the gown, plan to wear professional attire with comfortable dress shoes.
- Wear the tassel (included with your cap) on the front-RIGHT of the cap if you're receiving an associate or bachelor's degree; the front-LEFT of the cap if you're receiving a graduate degree.
- Place the hood over your shoulders and then unfold it to expose the colors:
Who receives a graduation cord? How and when?
- A cord is a rope-like strand worn during graduation to represent an academic achievement, affiliation, or legacy.
- An undergraduate degree recipient with a 3.5 or higher GPA as of the fall semester will receive a Gold Cord (it will be given to you when you pick up your name card and guest tickets).
- An undergraduate degree recipient who participated in co-curricular activities designated by university parameters will receive a Blue & White Cord (it will be distributed to you by Student Engagement program directors).
- JWU does not recognize other types of cords.
Who receives a graduation stole?
- A stole is a decorative sash worn during graduation to represent a student's academic achievements, extracurriculars, and other affiliations.
- An undergraduate degree recipient in the Honors Program who has a 3.4 or higher GPA as of the fall semester will receive an Honors Gold Stole (it will be distributed to you by the Honors Program director).
- JWU does not recognize other types of stoles.
How do I receive my name card? What do I do with it?
- Pick up your name card during the Graduation Fair (scroll down for date and time).
- Keep your card in a safe spot and bring it with you to your commencement ceremony.
- This card is used by announcers to read your name out loud when you cross the commencement stage (there is no alphabetical lineup).
- Also, the name printed on your card will be the name that is included in the commencement program.
- The name printed on your card will match what is listed on your Graduation Application, which you may view and update in jwuLink.
- If necessary, to make sure your name is pronounced correctly, write directly on your card the best way to say your name out loud.
What if I prefer to have a different first name (other than my legal name) printed on my card and/or in the commencement program?
- Please submit the Graduation Name in Use form by April 4, 2025.
Who needs guest tickets? How do I receive them?
- Tickets are required for guests to attend the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony only.
- Pick up your guest tickets during the Graduation Fair (scroll down for date and time).
- Keep them in a safe spot; we cannot replace them if lost.
- Tickets are not required for guests to attend the Graduate Studies Ceremony (there is ample open seating).
How many tickets does each undergraduate degree recipient receive? How much are they? Are seats assigned?
- You are allotted up to five (5) tickets for guests; you do not need a ticket for yourself.
- Tickets are complimentary and have no monetary value.
- Seating is open and not assigned.
- Any guest who will be occupying a seat needs a ticket (infants aged 2 or under who will be sitting on a lap will not need a ticket).
- For guests in wheelchairs, accessibility tickets are available upon request during ticket pickup.
What if I need more than five tickets?
- After all Graduation Fairs have concluded, we will distribute unclaimed tickets on a first-come, first-served basis (instructions will be posted to the commencement group in jwuLink).
- If you still need additional tickets, you may post reasonable requests to the commencement group in jwuLink.
- If you have tickets you don't plan to use, please give them to other students who've asked for them; or return them to the University Events office (Friedman Center).
- Tickets should never be sold or bought (this is considered a university violation and will trigger the conduct review process).
When is the Graduation Fair? What is it?
- In addition to getting your name card and tickets, various university departments and programs will be present during the Graduation Fair to offer pre-commencement congratulations, answer questions, review your account, chat about your plans, and much more!
- Please review the commencement group in jwuLink for dates and times.
What if I cannot attend the Graduation Fair in person?
- Please email events@jwu.edu with a detailed message and await further instructions.