Tassels and Hoods | Academic Honors Medals | Cords | Stoles

In 1896, the colleges and universities in the United States adopted a uniform code governing academic dress and all graduates from the University of Colorado wear black gowns. Those who are receiving a master’s or doctoral degree from the University of Colorado wear satin lined hoods with the university colors, silver and gold. The velvet border of the hood indicates the degree and master's graduates wear a black cap with a black tassel, while the doctorate graduates have a gold bullion tassel attached to their tam.  

The Oxford cap, usually referred to as a mortarboard, has a long tassel that is fastened by a button on the top. Candidates for baccalaureate degrees wear the tassel pendant over the right front of the cap before the degree is conferred, and over the left thereafter. The color of the tassel on the bachelor’s cap indicates the field of study, with the exception of the Bachelor of Science degrees from the College of Arts & Sciences, whose candidates wear white tassels.

The University of Colorado Boulder welcomes Native American and Indigenous students and their families to wear and display traditional Native American or Indigenous regalia at graduation. Regalia might include accessories such as beads, jewelry, feathers or leis and clothes, blankets and footwear. Only enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe should wear or possess eagle feathers.

Tassels and Hoods

Tassel Colors

Master's Hood Velvet Colors

Doctoral Hood Velvet Colors
Arts & Sciences: White Arts: White Audiology: Green
Business: Blue Business: Sapphire Blue Engineering: Dark Blue
Education: Light Blue Education: Light Blue Law (Juris Doctor): Purple
Engineering: Orange  Engineering: Orange  Musical Arts: Pink
Environmental Design: Lavender Environmental Design: Blue Violet (Lavender) Philosophy (PhD): Dark Blue
Fine Arts: Brown Fine Arts: Brown  
Media, Communication & Information: Red Law: Purple  
​Music: Pink Library Science: Lemon Yellow  
Master's:  Black Media, Communication & Information: Crimson  
Doctoral: Gold Bullion Music: Pink  
  ​Science: Gold  

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Academic Honors Medals

Academic Honor

Ribbon Color
With Distinction Royal Blue
With High Distinction Burgundy
With Honors White
With High Honors Light Blue
With Highest Honors Pink
Cum Laude Green
Magna Cum Laude Red
Summa Cum Laude Dark Purple

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Cords

Black & Gold Legacy Cord

CU Boulder Alumni Association

Black and gold cords for students who are members of CU Boulder Legacy families.

Black & Silver Cord

Space Minor

Students enrolled in the Space Minor receive an overarching background in all aspects of space and gain valuable and broader on space matter to add to their major degree. These students can be identified by their navy/silver or black/silver cords.

Blue Cord

Seniors Creating Future Buffs Scholarships

Blue cord worn by contributors to the senior class gift fund.

Blue & Green Cord

Education Abroad

Given to honor students who have successfully completed one or more CU Boulder Education Abroad programs or internships abroad during their undergraduate career.

Blue & Green Twisted Cord

CU Boulder Engineers Without Borders (EWB)

The Engineers Without Borders chapter at CU works internationally in developing communities to bring about positive change through engineering projects. Student members wearing these cords have brought meaningful contributions to the chapter and these communities alike, exemplifying what it means to be a global engineer.

Blue (Royal) & Red Cord

The Biomedical Engineering Minor is open to undergraduate students rostered in the College of Engineering and Applied Science who are interested in an exciting, multidisciplinary field that lies at the interface of medicine, biology and engineering.

Blue & White Cord

American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM)

The ASEM Chapter at CU engages with students interested in Engineering Management through professional development, guest speakers and networking events. Student members, designated with blue and white cords, have expanded their knowledge and experience in engineering management, while enhancing their resumes and career opportunities.

Bright White & Silver Doubled Multi-colored Honor Cord

Deming Center for Entrepreneurial Studies

Honors graduates of the Deming Center's High Growth Venture Fellowship (HGV) for graduate students.

Brown Cord

Leeds School of Business Real Estate Certificate

Certificate recipients and MBA graduates with an emphasis in real estate wear brown cords to signify the legacy they will create in their communities.

Burgundy & Pink Cord

CU in D.C. program (symbolizing the cherry blossoms)

The CU in D.C. program gives the University of Colorado undergraduate students the opportunity to put classroom learning into real world action. Participants live, study, and intern in the nation’s capital. They gain practical work experience by doing a professional internship in the daytime and continue their CU coursework by taking CU classes in the evening.  Students grow personally, professionally, and intellectually, and say that CU in D.C. is a pivotal and defining part of their CU experience. 

 

 

Crimson & Silver Cord

CMCI student engagement

The College of Media, Communication and Information student media and organizations  provide opportunities for students to hone their skills in media making, communication, and information which lead to other transferable competencies. CMCI majors who have engaged in The Bold, Sko Buffs Sports, Radio 1190, PRSSA, Ad Club, Design Club, INFO Buffs and TEDxCU for a full year or more (eligibility & distribution is determined by the organization’s faculty advisor) will be honored with a crimson and silver cord.

Green Cord

Social & Environmental Responsibility Graduation Pledges

Signers wear a green cord, and pledge to “explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider, and try to improve these aspects of any organization for which I work.”

Green & Silver Cord

Deming Center for Entrepreneurial Studies Certificate

This forest green and silver cord is awarded to Leeds undergraduate students who have excelled in entrepreneurship. Students wearing this cord have completed three elective courses with a 3.0 or above GPA, interned with a local startup, participated in a minimum of eight community entrepreneurship events, and passed a written capstone exam.

Gold & Silver Cord

High-Growth Venture Fellow

Recognizes top entrepreneurship MBA graduates from the Leeds School of Business who participated in a two-year fellowship program preparing them to contribute meaningfully to scaling ventures.

Gold & White Honor Cords

The College of Arts and Sciences recognizes our Arts and Sciences Student Government representatives for their service and dedication to the A&S student body. ASSG members help align student interests with those of faculty and administration and allocate student fees to support guest speakers, cultural events, and other student-focused events. 

Lemon Yellow Cord

The University Libraries

The University Libraries employs over 200 students each semester and many of them stay with the libraries from their first year through graduation. The student workers are essential to operations that connect library users with the highest quality information, celebrate cultural heritage and create welcoming spaces for all. This cord recognizes the students’ contributions to the mission of the libraries and the scholarly success of their fellow students and CU faculty.

Navy & Silver Cord

Beckman Scholars 

In 2017, the University of Colorado Boulder was selected by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation as one of eleven institutions in the United States to receive a Beckman Scholars Program Award. The Beckman Scholars Program offers an in depth research experience to exceptionally talented, full-time CU Boulder undergraduates in the biological and chemical sciences. 
 

Old Gold Cord

International Students

Provided to members of the CU Boulder international student community by the Office of International Students and Scholars

Orange & White Cord

National Student Speech Language Hearing Association Chapter

Seniors that have reached an honorary status and have been active members in the community.

Purple (Royal) Cord

American Institute of Chemical (AIChE) Leadership Team

Royal purple cords signify student members of the world’s leading organization of chemical engineers.

Purple & Gold Cord

CU Honors Scholars wear purple and gold cords to signify their involvement in the Honors Scholars community in the College of Arts and Sciences Honors Program at CU Boulder. Honors Scholars have completed at least 9 academic credits of Honors Program courses, hold a GPA of 3.5 or above, have completed community service hours, and have engaged in Honors event programming.

 

Red, Orange & Purple Cord

Smead Scholars

Graduate aerospace engineering sciences students who are recognized as being the most talented aerospace engineering graduate students nationally. This program is in memory of Dr. Harold “Joe” Smead by his family. Joe Smead was a donor, active participant in the department’s governance, and major proponent of CU Boulder’s aerospace program. The Smead Program, which supports these Scholars, is the aerospace department’s flagship recruitment and retention program.

Red, White & Blue Cord

Honoring Military Service

Red, white and blue cord designating veterans with prior Active-Duty service.

Please visit the Veteran and Military Affairs page for additional information.

Red & Yellow Twisted Cord

Chinese StudentS and Scholars Association

The Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) at CU Boulder is a non-profit student group established in 1996. Our mission is to present Chinese Culture, promote cultural diversity, and encourage social activities within the Boulder community. We are willing to build a bridge to help students better understand Chinese culture and increase the diversity of our campus.

 

Royal Blue & Gold Honor Cords

The College of Arts and Sciences recognizes our Student Advisory Board members for their service and dedication to improving the A&S student experience. These engaged student leaders serve as representatives of the A&S student body advising college administration on projects, programs, and policies.

Teal Cord

CU GOLD (Gaining Opportunities through Leadership Development)

Provides free leadership development programs to CU students. Those wearing a teal cord are dedicated to the mission that any student can be a leader.

Teal & Gold Twisted Cord

College of Arts & Sciences Ambassadors

Teal & White Cord 

Daniel's Scholars

Teal and white cord worn in tribute of Bill Daniels, who made their dream of achieving a college degree a reality.

Stoles

Degree Stole

Undergraduate Degree Stole

Bachelor's degree students have the option to dress up their gown with custom stoles representing the colleges and schools of the University of Colorado Boulder.  Degree stoles are available for purchase from the CU Bookstore.    

Gold Stole with Green Trim

Office of Financial Aid

Description: OFA Student Employees wear gold and green to acknowledge their commitment and contribution to helping students and their families navigate their journey through financial aid, scholarships, and work study, with a combination of communication outreach, advising, processing, and IT work.

Golden Buffalo Marching Band Medallion

Silver Buffs

At the end of their first week of rehearsal, every incoming freshman to join the Golden Buffalo Marching Band is given a medallion on a simple black and gold ribbon. The medallions are distributed during the singing of the Alma Mater at the Band Camp Close-out Ceremony. They represent the GBMB and tie the graduating classes together. Frequently worn on gameday, underneath the uniform, these medallions accompany members of the GBMB from their first days on campus to Commencement day. Graduating members of the GBMB are invited to wear their medallions during commencement activities as a symbol of their dedication to the Tradition, Heartbeat, Spirit, and Pride of the organization.

Kente Cloth

Black Graduation

Kente cloths are given to CU Boulder students who identify as part of our Black/African American/African community here on campus.  The Kente cloth is a multi-colored cloth that acknowledges ancient African traditions as well as ancestry and culture. Each color and shape signifies a different meaning and they are often given as a way to celebrate great accomplishments. 

 

 

Lavender & Rainbow Stole

Lavender Graduation

Lavender and rainbow stoles are given to students who identify within the LGBTQ+ community and/or have achieved significant positive change for the LGBTQ+ community on the CU Boulder campus.

Light Blue & Royal Blue Stole

National Student Speech Language Hearing Association Chapter

Seniors that have reached an honorary status and have been active members in the community.

Maroon Stole

Rotaract - campus chapter of the Boulder Rotary Club

Student members wear a maroon CU Rotaract graduation sash.

Pendleton Blanket

Native Graduation

Blankets have a long and rich history with Native American people of all tribal traditions.  Before contact with non-Natives, buffalo robes were given to honor people for noteworthy accomplishments, such as valor in war and achievement in leadership, amongst Plains tribes.  In the Southwest, weaving traditions yielded signature blankets which we still strongly associate with Native peoples and identities to this day. Native-owned companies like Eighth Generation emerged as leading producers of high-quality blankets, which are prized by tribal members as gifts to honor family and community members.

Serape Stole

Latinx Graduation 

The serape stole uses traditional Indigenous/Latinx serape blanket material celebrating a connection with Indigenous and Latinx communities and countries. These stoles have become a source of pride for those graduating as it commemorates Latinx culture combined with a symbol of graduation - one that Latnix graduates celebrate for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Silver Stole

Residence Life Resident Advisors

RA staff members are designated with a silver stole to acknowledge their contribution to the CU residential communities and the crucial role they play in creating a positive experience for first-year students.

Stole with White Base, Yellow Trim, CMCI Branded Logo

CMCI Ambassadors/CMCI Student Government executive leadership board​ 

Stoles are to honor and acknowledge a commitment to serving as the  face of CMCI as an Ambassador and/or the dedication to helping the community through holding an executive leadership position in CMCI Student Government. 

Student Athlete Stole

Herbst Academic Center

Stoles are to honor and celebrate students who are graduating as a current Division 1 student-athletes.

Student Ambassador Stole

Office of Admissions

Students wear a yellow stole with black trim to acknowledge their commitment to being the face of the university and dedication to helping prospective students in their transition to becoming a buffalo.

CU Boulder First Generation Stole

The CU Boulder first generation stole celebrates and acknowledges first-generation students' achievement of being the first in their family to graduate from a four-year institution.