Page 10 - 2023 Undergraduate Commencement

LATIN HONORS AND DISTINCTION
Bachelor’s degree candidates may graduate with Latin honors, Distinction, or both.
Latin Honors
Students graduating through the University Honors Program have taken part in a rigorous course of study, research, scholarship, or other creative work in the major, culminating in an Honors thesis representing independent work done under the direction of a faculty supervisor or mentor. Students graduating cum laude (with honor) have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 for the last 60 graded credits at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Magna cum laude (with great honor) awards require a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.66 and summa cum laude (with highest honor) awards require a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.75 in the final 60 graded credits at UMTC.
Distinction
Students earn graduation “with Distinction” or “with High Distinction” based on cumulative grade point average at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with at least 60 graded credits completed at UMTC. Students graduating “with Distinction” must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher in UMTC coursework at the time of graduation; students graduating “with High Distinction” must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.90 or higher in UMTC coursework at the time of graduation. Students graduating with distinction are wearing gold cords and those graduating with high distinction are wearing maroon and gold cords.
ACADEMIC COSTUME AND REGALIA
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Academic gowns date back to the 14th century, when they served two functions of nearly equal importance: to indicate the academic rank of the wearer and to keep the scholar warm in the drafty stone halls of academia.
The markings, cut, and colors of the modern-day academic costume—cap, gown, and sometimes hood—indicate the academic degree, the field of study, and the institution that granted the degree. At commencement ceremonies those who already have a doctoral degree wear hoods. Degree candidates wear the gowns appropriate for the degrees they are about to receive, and new doctorates are hooded on stage.
Bachelor’s degree gowns are black and untrimmed. A tassel hanging from the mortar board worn on the head is color-coded by college at the University of Minnesota:
• Biological Sciences (CBS) - Gold
• Continuing Education (CCAPS) - Old Gold & White
• Design (CDes) - Copper
• Education & Human Development (CEHD) - Light Blue
• Food, Agricultural & Natural Resources (CFANS) - Maize
• Liberal Arts (CLA) - White
• Carlson School of Management (CSOM) - Maroon & Gold • Nursing - Maroon & Gold
• Mortuary Science - Green
• Science & Engineering (CSE) - Orange
Master’s degree gowns, black and untrimmed, have pointed sleeves. Doctoral gowns in the United States traditionally have been black with velvet front facings and crossbars on the sleeves but in recent years a number of universities have adopted gowns of distinctive school colors. Master’s and doctoral students wear a black tassel on their mortar board caps with the exception being Masters of Public Health students, who have a salmon-colored tassel.
The Minnesota hood, which may be worn by anyone with a doctoral degree from the University of Minnesota, is black with maroon chevron on gold. Each institution has its own pattern of colors on the hood, worn around the neck and down the back of the gown. The length and shape of the hood identify the most advanced degree the wearer has earned, and the velvet edging shows the field: blue for doctor of philosophy, light blue for doctor of education, and pink for doctor of musical arts.