Fall 2021 Student Cap, Gown and Accessories Information

Please check the campus commencement page for the most current information regarding the Fall 2021 celebration.

ONLINE GOWN RENTAL

Rent your regalia for Fall 2021 here, to ship to your home or pick up in store. Grad Packs are available which include rental regalia and additional souvenir items. Please note rental regalia will take approximately 3-4 weeks to arrive. Distribution for pick up in store will be available starting Dec. 6th at the Campus Store.

When can I order my cap and gown?

Please be on the lookout for the ordering link. We expect the ordering site to be ready the week of Oct. 4.

Can I wear the one I previously purchased?

If your cap and gown was purchased through the official UC Davis vendor it may be worn again.

Do I need a cap and gown? Are cap and gowns required?

Yes, for in-person celebrations, traditional UC Davis cap and gowns will be required.

RENTAL DEADLINES

Orders for ship to home and pick up in store must be placed by Nov. 11th, 2021 9pm. Starting Nov. 12th all rentals will incur a $15 late fee and the ship to home option will no longer be available.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Purchase custom announcements. Custom announcements will take approximately 3 weeks to arrive.

CUSTOM REGALIA

Purchase a tailored gown in the same style as the rental version: Custom Regalia. This option takes approximately 7 weeks for production and shipping.

FRAMES

Purchase high-quality customizable diploma frames through Framing Success.

A limited selection of popular frame styles are stocked at the UC Davis Campus Store in the Memorial Union or at the UC Davis Downtown Store. Please view available styles at the UC Davis Stores site.

CLASS RINGS

To make a virtual or in-person appointment for information about class rings or place your custom order contact:

Bill Higbee and Mandy McDonough

[email protected]

In-person appointments will be held at the Memorial Union on the following dates:

Wednesday, Oct 6th- 10am to 2pm

Wednesday, Nov 10th 10am to 2pm

Monday and Tuesday, Dec 6th/7th 10am to 2pm

GRADUATION ACCESSORIES

Grad Souvenir Merchandise and Packages Commencement Accessories.

If you have any questions please email [email protected]

General FAQ

Rental Questions

How do I order?

Place your rental order at this website.

How do I get my gown?

For Fall 2021, rental gown orders can be shipped or picked up in store.

How long will it take for my rental gown to arrive?

Rental gown orders will arrive in approximately 3-4 weeks.

What are the deadlines to place a rental order?

Orders for ship to home and pick up in store must be placed by Nov. 11th, 2021 9pm. Starting Nov. 12th all rentals will incur a $15 late fee and the ship to home option will no longer be available.

What comes with the gown rental?

A custom rental gown designed for UC Davis, a “one-size-fits-most” mortarboard cap and a tassel with the current year. For certain degree programs an academic hood must be rented as well. The rental gown (and hood if rented) must be returned. The cap and tassel are yours to keep.

How much does the rental cost and are there any package deals?

Pricing for the gown rental varies by degree level and degree program. Prices for the gown rental alone or for Grad Packs which include gown rental along with souvenir merchandise can be found at this website.

What size gown should I rent?

Rental gowns are sized by height in 2-inch increments. While placing the order you will provide your height in inches and indicate a weight range.

How do I return my gown?

A return shipping label will be provided in your gown shipment if you are having your order shipped to your home. Please keep track of the return label and ship back your return following your ceremony. If you are missing your return label, please visit this site to generate a new mailing label. Only gowns and hoods need to be returned. Cap and tassel are yours to keep. You will need your original order number to generate the label. If you chose to pick up in store, there will be a returns table at the commencement site and it can be returned after the ceremony.

What is the deadline to return the rental?

Rental items must be postmarked or returned in person by Dec. 27th, 2021.

Can I purchase my cap and gown?

Custom regalia that is made to your measurements can be purchased at this website.

I paid for my gown rental, but now I wish I had gotten a Grad Pack... can I switch?

A Souvenir Pack with a selection of Grad Pack items is available to purchase at the Campus Store or online at ucdavisstores.com. The Souvenir Pack offers the same discounted pricing as is in the Grad Pack.

I want to wear my gown for pictures after the ceremony. Can I return it later?

Gowns must be postmarked or returned in person by Dec. 27th, 2021. If you specifically need to extend the rental period, please reach out to [email protected] to make special arrangements.

What do I need to wear for commencement?

For an in-person commencement ceremony or graduation celebration, all graduates wear a custom UC Davis rental gown, cap and tassel. Additionally, masters and doctors wear an academic hood, which drapes from the front of the neck down the back and signifies the degree earned and the university conferring it. When you visit the cap and gown rental site it will show you what you need to rent based on your initial selections.

For a virtual celebration, there is no requirement for attire.

Souvenir Item Questions

When are the class ring dates for Spring 2021?

To schedule a virtual ring or in person appointment, please contact:

Bill Higbee and Mandy McDonough

[email protected]

In-person appointments will be held at the Memorial Union on the following dates:

Wednesday, Oct 6th- 10am to 2pm

Wednesday, Nov 10th 10am to 2pm

Monday and Tuesday, Dec 6th/7th 10am to 2pm

Can I purchase just the cap and tassel?

The cap and tassel set can be purchased from UC Davis Stores, either at ucdavisstores.com or in the Campus Store.

Keeper Cap and Navy Blue Tassel set for bachelors and masters degree.

Keeper Cap and Gold Tassel set for PhD degree.

I graduated last year... can I still get a tassel with my year on it?

Yes. Both the commencement tassel and the souvenir tassel can be ordered with past year signets. Please place your order online at ucdavisstores.com and indicate the year needed in the comments on your order.

Can I purchase just the stole instead of the full Grad Pack?

All Grad Pack souvenir items can be purchased a la carte from UC Davis Stores, either at ucdavisstores.com or in the Campus Store. The listing for the stole is at this website.

Announcement Questions

Can I get special text on my announcements, and can they be rushed?

Yes and yes. Announcements can take up to 3 weeks for delivery. Please contact the announcement vendor Herff Jones to request any special shipping arrangements or text changes.

I have further questions that were not addressed. Who do I contact?

If your question wasn’t answered in this FAQ, please email the Commencement coordinators at [email protected].