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 doctor’s degree from the University of Colorado wear hoods lined with the university colors, silver and gold. The velvet border of the hood indicates the degree and master's graduates wear a black cap and tassel, while the doctor 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 BA degree whose candidates wear white tassels indicating the arts.

Tassel Colors
Arts: White
Business: Sapphire Blue
Doctor of Philosophy: Dark Blue
Education: Light Blue
Engineering: Orange 
Environmental Design: Blue-violet 
Fine Arts: Brown
Law: Purple
Library Science: Lemon Yellow
Media, Communication & Information: Crimson
Music: Pink
Science: Gold

Cords

CU Boulder Alumni Association Legacy Cord

CU Boulder Alumni Association

Black and gold cords to students who are members of Legacy families.

Black and 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 (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.

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.

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 award to Leeds undergraduate students who have excelled in entrepreneurship. Students wearing this cord have complete 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.

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. 
 

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

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 those who have served in the armed forces (veterans) as well as those who will serve upon graduation (ROTC commissionees)

Silver & Gold 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.

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 & 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.

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. 

 

 

Stoles

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.

Red & White Stole

Asian Unity

Confers a red and white sash on students who have shown exemplary leadership with their utmost passion and dedication in strengthening the Asian American & Pacific Islanders community (AAPI) at CU Boulder.

Maroon Stole

Rotaract - campus chapter of the Boulder Rotary Club

Student members wear a maroon CU Rotaract graduation sash.

Lavender and 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.

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.

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.

Golden Buffalo March 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. 

 

 

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.