Commencement Cords, Stoles & Regalia

*Brief Overview of the Policy

Policy on the use of cords, stoles and other accessories at Siena University commencement ceremonies.

Reason for Policy

Establishment of guidelines governing the use of cords, stoles and other accessories at commencement.

Scope of the Policy: Entities or Individuals affected by this policy
Graduating seniors
Advisors to student honor societies, affinity groups and clubs

The Official Policy

Policy on Use of Cords, Stoles and Accessories at Commencement

General Policy

Siena University supports the wearing of honor cords and stoles at Commencement ceremonies by graduates who have earned these privileges through the completion of academic honors programs and induction into university-recognized honor societies, or participation in clubs and affinity groups. Stoles, cords, or decorations cannot be demeaning or offensive. Graduates must
remove it if requested by staff. Please see the attached addendum of current Siena-recognized honor societies and the associated insignia, which have been approved for inclusion in the Commencement Program.
The academic advisor of an honors program or honor society whose members are eligible for a specific cord/stole shall be responsible for the distribution prior to commencement. Note that some honor cords are included in the membership fee while others are an additional financial responsibility of the member. Graduates should see their honors program/society advisor for
more information.
The red/white/blue cord is reserved to recognize honorably discharged U.S. veteran students, current students serving in the U.S. military (active duty, National Guard, Reserves), and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) students commissioned upon graduation. The Veterans Services Office in Foy Hall coordinates the distribution of this cord. Members of the military may choose to wear their uniform or the academic gown and regalia.
Siena University does not incorporate honor cords at Commencement to recognize cumulative grade index honors (e.g. summa cum laude, magna cum laude and cum laude). Graduates with these honors designations are recognized in the Commencement Program.
Graduates may choose to wear cultural attire or the academic gown and regalia.

Administrative and Financial Support

Funding for honor cords/stoles is the responsibility of the sponsoring program/honor society, or in some cases the individual student, as deemed appropriate by that program. Any honors program/society that wishes to incorporate cords or stoles into its program for students to wear during Commencement must administer the process for ordering, distributing, and identifying funding sources.

Honor Society	Cord/Stole
Alpha Kappa Alpha	Gold aiguillette
Delta Epsilon Sigma	Gold and burgundy cord
Alpha Kappa Delta	Green cord
Alpha Mu Gamma	Gold cord
Beta Alpha Psi	None
Beta Gamma Sigma	Blue stole
Financial Management Association National Honor Society	Blue and white cord OR FMA-NHS Sash
Kappa Delta Pi	Purple and green cord
National Society of Leadership and Success	Platinum and navy cord or stole
Omicron Delta Epsilon	Gold stole
Phi Alpha	None
Phi Alpha Delta	None
Phi Alpha Theta	Red and blue honor cord
Phi Lambda Upsilon	Pink cord
Phi Sigma Gamma Sigma	None
Phi Sigma Tau	None
Pi Gamma Mu	Navy and white cord
Pi Mu Epsilon	Gold, purple and lavender cord
Pi Sigma Alpha	Blue and gold cord
Psi Chi	Blue and white cord
Sigma Pi Sigma	Green and white cord
Sigma Tau Delta	Red and black cord
Sigma Theta Tau	Purple and white cord
21st Century Leaders Society	Green and gold cord
Upsilon Pi Epsilon	Maroon and white honor cord

Additional symbolic honor cords and sashes permitted at Commencement
ALANA and LAVENDER Students who identify as being a part of the LGBTQ+ community, as a person of color, or have participated in fostering allyship within the Siena Community. Also, students who have been members of any of the following organizations: o Asian Student Association o Black Student Union o Gaelic Society o Gay-Straight Alliance o Indigenous Student Association o International Student Association o Jewish Student Association o Latin Student Association o Muslim Student Association	Green and gold stripes on black stole
Baldwin Nursing Program	Gold sash with program logo
HEOP	Green and gold satin sash
Student-Athletes	Gold with green satin sash
Student Government Association	Green, gold and black cord
Veteran or current member of the armed services	Red, white and blue honor cord
International Students	Flag representing home country stole

* Resources

Policy is posted on the commencement webpage at www.siena.edu/commencement.

Adopted: September 11, 2018
Reviewed: September 25, 2024
Revised: August 21, 2025