<p>Mardad, the only logical conclusion that follows from the argument that the Columbia diploma issued to Barnard students is different by virtue of the signature and seal of the Barnard President would be that the Barnard/Columbia diploma has greater validity and weight. </p>
<p>There is no other possible logical conclusion. That is – I don’t think you could find any example of a legal document that was not enhanced by the presence of extra authorized signatures. If you receive a check from a corporation that is signed by the an officer, you would think it was valid. If you received a check from the same corporation that bore two signatures rather than one, signed by two officers --you wouldn’t think it was less valuable – rather, you would assume that the presence of the countersignature provided added assurance of validity. </p>
<p>However – as I’ve pointed out above – every Columbia U. diploma is signed by two authorities – the President of Columbia University and the titular head of the faculty under which the student studied and through which the diploma is awarded. The only exceptions are honorary diplomas, which of course are not true degrees. A diploma awarded to a Columbia College student would not be valid without the signature of the Dean of Columbia College.</p>