Caps & Gowns

Commencement is going GREEN

Graduates will be wearing environmentally-friendly caps and gowns. The caps and gowns are made from Repreve, a yarn made from 100% recycled materials. And, there’s an added bonus: Unifi, the company who makes Repreve, will donate a portion of its sales to environmental causes that you help choose. Here’s how it works: When you purchase your cap and gown at the University Bookstore, locate the code inside the hang tag. Then, go to http://www.repreve.com to vote for the cause you’d like to receive a portion of Unifi’s annual donation.

Spring 2012 Pricing

• Undergraduate package (cap, gown, tassel and stole): $68.00
• Masters package (cap, gown, tassel and hood): $78.00
• Doctoral package (tam, gown and short tassel): $120.00
  • Doctoral hoods will be awarded at the ceremony
• Souvenir tassel: $6.00 (when purchased separately)
• Stole of Gratitude: $25.00 (when purchased separately)

Cap and gown purchase and pick up

The University Bookstore always strives to improve our customer service. This year, students will purchase their caps and gowns directly from the Bookstore. If you have friends who have graduated in recent semesters, you may have heard about cap and gown pre-ordering. Pre-ordering is not available this semester, but don’t worry – a variety of sizes will still be available.

• Cap and gown sales begin on Monday, May 7, 2012
• You must present photo ID when picking up your cap and gown
• All eligible students will receive up to 6 tickets with the cap and gown package
• This is also the time to obtain approval for borrowed caps and gowns (see details below)

Live outside the Binghamton area?

If you will not be in Binghamton during cap and gown distribution (study abroad, internship, graduated in summer, etc.), consider the following options for getting your cap and gown and guest tickets:

1. Ask a friend who lives on campus or locally to pick up your cap and gown for you
   • If you choose this option, email commence@binghamton.edu with your friend’s name and that you are designating him/her to pick up your regalia
   • The Commencement Office will notify the bookstore
   • Make sure your friend brings photo ID, a list of your sizes and payment to the bookstore
2. Arrange for shipment of your cap and gown package
   • Contact the University Bookstore at 607-777-2745 to make arrangements
   • You will be responsible for shipping costs

Things to know about caps and gowns

Does my tassel go on the left or the right?
An undergraduate student should wear his/her tassel on the right side of the mortarboard prior to the conferral of degrees at the ceremony. The University president will tell you during the ceremony when you can move your tassel from the right to the left.

Can I use a friend's cap and gown?
Undergraduate students at Binghamton University wear green bachelor’s gowns and mortarboards at Commencement. The gown should fall to just above the ankle. If you have a green gown from a previous ceremony that you would like to use, you are welcome to do so, but you must obtain approval through the University Bookstore. Approval is at the discretion of the bookstore. If approved, you will be given guest tickets by University Bookstore staff. 

Stole of Gratitude
A stole of gratitude or memory stole is worn during the University Commencement in tribute to someone who has helped him or her toward earning a degree. The stole is a required piece of the undergraduate cap and gown ensemble.