On April 4, 1915, the official seal of The University of Arizona was
adopted. With minor variations, that seal is used today. The University
seal is reserved for formal uses such as diplomas and official
documents.
The seal can be used in red and blue, black and
white,
or
metallic gold. An embossing stamp is available for embossing UA seals on
official documents and certificates. This is done by the Office of the
President.
The UA Seal can only be
used with permission from the President's
Office.
The sun in the center is meant to symbolize both enlightenment through
learning and the Southwestern sun. The cross in the center is a
historical reference to the church fathers who first introduced
education to Arizona. The word sursum is Latin for upward. The word sigillum is Latin for seal. The key
directly beneath the cross indicates the University's role in unlocking
the realms of knowledge.
Because UA is a land grant university, its seal includes the miner's
pick, symbolizing the application of scientific principles to the
state's mining industries, and the plow, symbolizing the application of science
to Arizona's agricultural enterprises. The lower half of the inner circle contains a philosophy
book supporting a history book upon which rests the Greek lamp of
learning. The words Established in 1885 were added in 1922 and shortened
to 1885 in the early 1980's.