241
University History and Traditions
241.2 University Traditions
The University Motto
The University motto, Quaecumque vera, is taken from the Latin Vulgate version of the Bible, the Epistle of St Paul to the Philippians, chapter 4, verse 8:
De cetero, fratres, quaecumque sunt vera, quaecumque pudica,
quaecumque justa, quaecumque sancta, quaecumque amabilia,
quaecumque bonae famae, si qua virtus, si qua laus disciplinae, haec
cogitate.
Following is the same passage, from the King James version:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
The Coat of Arms
On November 15, 1909, a motion by the faculty recommended to the Senate the adoption by the University of the provincial coat of arms, with the addition of an open book above the shield and the motto Lux et Lex; the words “University of Alberta” were to be attached as might seem fit. The present motto was substituted in January 1911 for the one originally proposed. In 1950 the representation of the coat of arms was altered to conform better to the principles of heraldic design but these arms were never actually registered.
In 1994 a new coat of arms incorporating a number of traditional symbols associated with the University or the Province, or with learning, was officially granted by the Canadian Heraldic Authority. In non-technical language, it consists of the following elements:
Shield: a representation of the topography of Alberta (wheat fields, hills, rivers, and the Rocky Mountains) derived from the provincial coat of arms, and a book symbolizing learning.
Crest: a Great Horned Owl, the provincial bird and a traditional symbol of wisdom.
Supporters: a pronghorn, taken from the provincial coat of arms, and a golden bear, long the University mascot, standing on a mound of wild roses, the floral emblem of Alberta.
Motto: Quaecumque vera.
The University Colors
The original suggestion for green and gold University colors came from Marion Kirby Alexander, who drew her inspiration from the autumn colors of the river valley below the campus. Her husband, William Hardy Alexander, Professor of Classics, relayed the suggestion to the Faculty meeting of October 5, 1908. At its first meeting of October 13, 1908, the Senate approved the combination of green and gold as particularly appropriate to the new University of Alberta. The green represents wide stretches of prairie land flanked by deep spruce forests, and is symbolic of hope and optimism; the gold represents the golden harvest fields and is symbolic of the light of knowledge.
The University Flag
The Flag of the University consists of the shield of the coat of arms on a gold background.
The shield and the motto are used in accordance with the University's visual identity program.
Trademarks and Logos
The University’s name (i.e., The University of Alberta) and acronym (U of A), and other names commonly associated with the University (e.g., Bears/Pandas), as well as the University coat-of-arms, shield, crest, logos, insignia, and other graphic and word marks are protected under the Trade Marks Act.
Any use of these trademarks for other than official University of Alberta business requires authorization from the Vice President (University Relations) or designate. It is a serious offence to use any of these trademarks or their elements for any purpose without written permission. Unauthorized use constitutes infringement and guilty parties are subject to penalties.
The names and marks of the University may not be used in conjunction with any other names, marks and/or trademarks of a third party, except by express written permission from the owner of those marks.
The Official Coat-of-Arms of the University of Alberta may not be used except by the Office of the Chancellor in conducting official University business.
Academic Costume
Undergraduate Degrees
All undergraduate and master's degree gowns are the customary Cambridge shape, i.e., a gown of black material falling below the knee with full sleeves cut to the elbow and terminating in a point. Hoods are made in the Oxford pattern of spruce green material. The Bachelor's hood has a border three inches wide of the color distinctive of the Faculty as noted below. The Masters' hood has a full lining of the color distinctive of the Faculty also noted below. Mortarboards are the standard black trencher shape with black tassels, which are worn forward and to the left.
Doctorate Degrees
Doctors' gowns (PhD, DMus, and EdD) conform to the Intercollegiate Code in design. They are made of black material and the velvet trim on the sleeves is Philosophy Blue for the PhD and DMus, and Education Light Blue for the EdD. Doctor's hoods conform to the Intercollegiate Code in shape, size, and color. They are made of black material to match the gown, and have a full lining of gold satin with a six-inch green satin chevron. The velvet trim distinguishes the two degrees and matches the velvet trim on the gown's sleeves. There is a narrow green piping where the gold lining joins the black material. Mortarboards are the standard black trencher shape with black tassels, which are worn forward and to the left.
Honorary Degrees
Honorary Doctors of Laws (LLD), Letters (DLitt), and Science (DSc) wear a scarlet robe faced with white silk. Hoods are made in the Cambridge form of scarlet silk with a full lining of white silk. Caps are black velvet with a gold tassel.
General Information Chart 1
Undergraduate Degrees | |
Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences | Grass Green |
Bilingual BScEnv | Grass Green/Lavender |
Arts | White |
Augustana | Band of Red, Black, White |
Business | Silver Grey |
Bilingual BCom | Silver Grey/Lavender |
Education | Royal Blue |
Engineering | Light Green |
Law | Scarlet |
Medicine and Dentistry | |
Dentistry/Dental Hygiene | Maroon |
Medicine | Crimson |
Native Studies | White/band of Red, White, Green, Gold, and Blue |
Nursing | Crimson/White |
Bilingual BScN | Crimson/White/Lavender |
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | Cinnamon |
Physical Education and Recreation | Royal Blue/Gold |
Rehabilitation Medicine | Salmon Pink |
Faculté Saint-Jean | |
•BA | Lavender/White |
•BEd | Lavender/Blue |
•BSc | Lavender/Gold |
Science | Gold |
Master's Degrees | |
Agriculture in | |
•Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences | Grass Green |
•Human Ecology | Grass Green |
•Renewable Resources | Grass Green |
•Rural Economy | Grass Green |
Arts in | |
•Anthropology | White |
•Art and Design | White |
•Classics | White |
•Clothing and Textiles | Grass Green |
•Communications and Technology | White |
•Comparative Literature | White |
•Drama | White |
•Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (Geography) | Gold |
•East Asian Studies | White |
•Economics | White |
•English | White |
•Faculté Saint-Jean (Maîtrise en arts) | White/Lavender |
•Film Studies | White |
•Geography | White |
•Germanic Languages | White |
•Hispanic Literatures | White |
•History | White |
•Linguistics | White |
•Modern Languages and Cultural Studies | White |
•Music | White |
•Philosophy | White |
•Physical Education and Sport Studies | Royal Blue/Gold |
•Political Science | White |
•Psychology | White |
•Recreation and Leisure Studies | Royal Blue/Gold |
•Religion | White |
•Romance Languages | White |
•Slavic and East European Studies | White |
•Sociology | White |
Business Administration | Silver Grey |
Design | White |
Education in | |
•Educational Policy Studies | Royal Blue |
•Educational Psychology | Royal Blue |
•Elementary Education | Royal Blue |
•Faculté Saint-Jean (Maîtrise en sciences de l'éducation) | Blue/Lavender |
•Secondary Education | Royal Blue |
Engineering | Light Green |
Financial Management | Silver Grey |
Fine Arts | White |
Forestry | Grass Green |
Laws | Scarlet |
Library and Information Studies | Lemon Yellow |
Music | White |
Nursing | Crimson/White |
Pharmacy | Cinnamon |
Public Health | Crimson |
Science in | |
•Agricultural Engineering | Grass Green |
•Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences | Grass Green |
•Anatomy and Cell Biology | Crimson |
•Animal Science | Grass Green |
•Applied Sciences in Medicine | Crimson |
•Biochemistry | Crimson |
•Biological Sciences | Gold |
•Biology | Gold |
•Biomedical Engineering | Crimson |
•Botany | Gold |
•Cell Biology | Crimson |
•Chemical Engineering | Light Green |
•Chemistry | Gold |
•Civil Engineering | Light Green |
•Clothing and Textiles | Grass Green |
•Computer Engineering | Light Green |
•Computing Science | Gold |
•Dentistry | Maroon |
•Earth and Atmospheric Sciences | Gold |
•Electrical Engineering | Light Green |
•Entomology | Gold |
•Environmental Engineering | Light Green |
•Family Ecology and Practice | Grass Green |
•Family Studies | Grass Green |
•Food Science | Grass Green |
•Foods and Nutrition | Grass Green |
•Forest Science | Grass Green |
•Genetics | Gold |
•Geography | Gold |
•Geology | Gold |
•Geophysics | Gold |
•Health Promotion | Crimson |
•Human Ecology | Grass Green |
•Immunology | Crimson |
•Laboratory Medicine and Pathology | Crimson |
•Linguistics | White |
•Materials Engineering | Light Green |
•Mathematical Sciences | Gold |
•Mathematics | Gold |
•Mechanical Engineering | Light Green |
•Medical Genetics | Crimson |
•Medical Microbiology and Immunology | Crimson |
•Medical Sciences | Crimson |
•Medicine | Crimson |
•Meteorology | Gold |
•Microbiology | Gold |
•Mining, Materials, and Petroleum Engineering | Light Green |
•Occupational Therapy | Salmon Pink |
•Oncology | Crimson |
•Ophthalmology | Crimson |
•Oral Health Sciences | Maroon |
•Paediatrics | Crimson |
•Pathology | Crimson |
•Pharmacology | Crimson |
•Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | Cinnamon |
•Physical Education and Sport Studies | Royal Blue/Gold |
•Physical Therapy | Salmon Pink |
•Physics | Gold |
•Physiology | Crimson |
•Plant Science | Grass Green |
•Psychiatry | Crimson |
•Psychology | Gold |
•Public Health Sciences | Crimson |
•Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging | Crimson |
•Renewable Resources | Grass Green |
•Rural Economy | Grass Green |
•Soil Science | Grass Green |
•Speech Pathology and Audiology | Salmon Pink |
•Statistics and Applied Probability | Gold |
•Surgery | Crimson |
•Textiles and Clothing | Grass Green |
•Zoology | Gold |
