The Presidential Medallion

The Berklee medallion was inaugurated at the 2000 college commencement by then-president
Lee Eliot Berk in honor of Berklee's 55th anniversary. In the Middle Ages, medallions wrought
in different metals such as gold, silver, and bronze became an accepted element of civil and
academic ceremonial garb. The medallion symbolized a badge of office. Adhering to the
customs of European educational institutions, American universities and colleges adopted the
tradition of a medallion made to be worn over the academic robe as part of their presidential
ceremonial dress.

The central circular bronze medallion bears Berklee's seal, upon which is engraved the Berklee
motto, Esse quam videri, meaning “to be, rather than to seem to be.” The words “Berklee
College of Music” arch over the top half of the seal. Treble clefs flank the seal, and the words
"Founded 1945" run underneath. The entire medallion is edged with a bezel design. The
decorative links that support the medallion alternate between the letter B intertwined with a
treble clef and the college’s seal.

The presidential medallion has become an important ceremonial symbol for Berklee. It is worn
on select academic occasions to reflect the high ideals and traditions Berklee has established
as the leader in contemporary music education.

Academic Dress

Cap and gown have characterized academic gatherings since the medieval origins of
the university.

The doctor's gown is the fullest and the most elaborate, with long bell sleeves and velvet
panels in front, and stripes of the same material on the sleeves. The bachelor’s gown is the
simplest, looking very much like a choir robe.

In the 20th century, American colleges began choosing the colors for their college doctoral
gowns. Those of Berklee are gray and black, with red piping. Trustees and other college
leaders and stage dignitaries in academic gatherings normally wear the robe of either the
college with which they are currently associated or the one from which they graduated.

Hoods are also different, with the longest and fullest being the doctor’s hood. The inside of
the hood is often lined with colors to identify the institution that granted the degree, and the
border around the hood indicates the subject in which the degree was taken. The degree in
music is characterized by a pink hood, for example, and honorary degree recipients receive
both an inscribed degree and their doctoral hood attesting to the recognition they have
received. Some of the other commonly seen colors on doctoral hoods are purple for law,
forest green for medicine, and light blue for education.