| Policy Title | Commencement Cords, Stoles & Regalia |
| Type or category of Policy: | College Policy |
| Approval Authority: | President’s Cabinet |
| Responsible Executive: | Director of Academic Programs/Commencement Coordinator |
| Responsible Office: | Academic Affairs |
| Owner Contact: | Dr. Margaret Madden, Provost and Senior Vice President |
| Reviewed By: | Academic Affairs |
| Reviewed Date: | August 14, 2023 |
| Last Revised and Effective Date of Revision: | August 14, 2023 |
*Brief Overview of the Policy
Policy on the use of cords, stoles and other accessories at Siena College 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 and affinity groups
The Official Policy
Policy on Use of Cords, Stoles and Accessories at Commencement
General Policy
Siena College 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 college-recognized honor societies. Veterans and current members of the U.S. military; HEOP students; student-athletes; members of the Student Government Association; and affinity groups may also wear approved cords and stoles. (Refer to addendum of current Siena-recognized honor societies and other approved groups/programs for the complete list.)
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.
Siena College 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 |
| 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 | |
|
Affinity Clubs
|
Gold satin sash |
| ALANA and LAVENDER | Green and gold stripes on black stole |
| 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: August 14, 2023
Revised: August 14, 2023