Regalia

Regalia has been ordered for all candidates who submitted a current delivery address via the Google Form that was emailed on May 22. Candidates should receive their regalia at the address provided by the end of June.

The Basics

The regalia you receive is yours to keep; you do not have to return it.
Each regalia package will include a robe, a cap or tam (depending on degree), academic hood, commemorative stole (Spring 2020 only), and 2020 tassel.
Latin honor cords will be included for those undergraduate candidates receiving this honor.
Dry-cleaning is recommended if necessary; regular washers/dryers may result in shrinking or damage to the fabric.

Upon Arrival

Regalia is delivered pre-cleaned; there is no need to wash it upon arrival.
The shipping process will result in some creasing or wrinkling. Please remove the regalia from the packaging and place it on a hanger.
To remove wrinkles and creasing, we recommend steaming the gown by hanging it near a shower or using a garment steamer. Ironing is not recommended as it may damage the fabric.

Getting Ready

Comfortable clothing under the robe is suggested.
Comfortable shoes are also recommended, especially if you will be attending the Drive-Up Graduation at the Greek event. It is important to remember that you will be descending and climbing unevenly spaced steps in the amphitheatre.
Undergraduate candidates should place tassels on the right-hand side of the graduation cap. These will be moved to the left as part of Dr. Brower’s online conferral of degrees on Saturday, July 25 (more on that coming soon!).
Master’s and doctoral candidates should wear tassels on the left-hand side of the graduation cap or tam.
Your commemorative stole should be put on before your academic hood.
We recommend putting your cap on last; it is difficult to put the hood on while wearing the cap.
When placing the hood, follow these helpful how-to tips (video coming soon!):
- Put the hood over the head, velvet side up, with the small tapered V-shaped end in front of the neck and the long U-shaped rear draping over the back.
- Smooth the front of the hood into place, so it rests comfortably below the chin and over the shoulders.
- Secure the front loop to your clothing or gown zipper to keep the hood in place or use a safety pin if necessary.
- Enlist the help of a friend or family member to adjust the placement on the rear of the hood.
- Use your fingers to turn out the colors on the back of the hood, starting just below the shoulders and turning the fabric inside-out to expose the lining and chevron underneath.

We invite you to channel your creative side and decorate your cap! Below you will find some tips, tricks, and photos to guide you on this crafty adventure. When you’re finished, post a photo and make sure to tag us on Instagram @PLNUAlumni and @PLNUClassof2020!

Note: Decorations should be tasteful and not present a hazard to the candidate or others nearby. The university reserves the right to request that a candidate remove their decorated cap if it is deemed inappropriate.

Tips and Tricks

Make sure to set your tassel somewhere away from your crafting area to avoid accidents with glue and glitter.
Hot glue works best, but tacky glue may work too (avoid Elmer’s as it might not adhere to the fabric properly).
Foam letters and stickers don’t typically adhere well on their own. Glue them down!
If you are going to use paint, acrylic works best.
If you don’t want to add decorations directly to your cap, use a piece of scrapbook paper instead!
- Cut the sheet to fit your graduation cap – and don’t forget to cut a hole for the tassel button on top!
- Tack the scrapbook paper down with several dabs of hot glue.
Beware the weight of your decorations. Items that are too heavy may fall off (or give you a headache!).
Be creative, this is a great chance to let your personality shine!