At American university, about to get ceremonial headgear (5)
I believe the answer is:
mitre
'ceremonial headgear' is the definition.
'mitre' can be an answer for 'headgear' (mitre is a kind of headgear). I am not certain of the 'ceremonial' bit.
'at american university about' is the wordplay.
'at' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'american university' becomes 'MIT' (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
'about' becomes 're' (regarding).
'mit'+'re' is 'MITRE'.
'to get' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mitre that I've seen before include "episcopal head may come under this" , "See boss gear up" , "top?" , "Liturgical headdress" , "Bishop's headgear - joint" .)