Gowns and hoods, however, are markedly different for the respective degrees. The hood not only indicates the type of degree but is lined with the official color or colors of the university conferring the degree, this to be charged with with a chevron or chevrons when the institution uses more than one color. For example, the official University of New Mexico colors are cherry and silver, so the hood is lined with silver gray with a chevron of cherry red. In the case of today's candidates for Bachelor's degrees, hoods are not worn, but the color of the cap tassel serves the same purpose in identifying the wearer's degree. Candidates for Master's degrees wear hoods and have black cap tassels.
Doctors are hooded and have gold cap tassels.
General Honors students are identified by a silver tasseled cord worn over the academic robe. The procession is led by the University Secretary and the Faculty Senate President who carries the University Mace. The mace, originally a medieval weapon and later carried by sergeants at arms guarding kings and high church officials, gradually assumed a purely ceremonial character symbolizing authority. When used in academic processions, the mace usually precedes the entire procession. The University of New Mexico Mace was designed and crafted for presentation at the Centennial Convocation in 1989 by Ralph Lewis, professor emeritus of art.