Policy: Honorary Degrees

1. Purpose and Scope
   1. To define the requirements for the University’s highest honor – the honorary doctorate degree.
2. Definitions
   1. (Reserved)
3. Policy
   1. Standards
      1. Upon recommendation by the President and approval by the Board of Trustees, honorary degrees are awarded to individuals who have achieved unusual distinction in service to the University and/or society in such areas as research, scholarship, education, the arts, humanities, the professions, business, government service, civic affairs, human rights, humanitarian outreach, social activism, innovation and invention.
      2. The selection of honorary degree recipients should be made in a manner that will bring honor to both the recipients and the university.
      3. Honorary degrees generally will be awarded only at official commencements or at special convocations held on the campus of the university.
   2. Limitations
      1. No limit is set on the number of honorary degrees that may be awarded, but the number should never become so large as to diminish their significance or importance.
      2. Honorary degrees will not be awarded in absentia.
      3. Honorary degrees will not be awarded to members of the Board of Trustees or the Board of Regents while they are serving in that capacity.
      4. Honorary degrees will generally not be awarded to current staff or faculty members.
   3. All matters pertaining to the nomination and selection of honorary degree candidates are confidential.
      1. ————
      2. [Note: Parts IV-VII of this Regulation (and all other University Regulations) are Regulations Resource Information – the contents of which are not approved by the Academic Senate or Board of Trustees, and are to be updated from time to time as determined appropriate by the cognizant Policy Officer and the Institutional Policy Committee, as per Policy 1-001 and Rule 1-001.]
4. Rules, Procedures, Guidelines, Forms and other related resources
   1. Rules (Reserved)
   2. Procedures
      1. Procedure 9-002 
   3. Guidelines (Reserved)
   4. Forms (Reserved)
   5. Other related resource materials (Reserved)
5. References:
   1. (Reserved)
6. Contacts:
   1. The designated contact officials for this Policy are:
      1. Policy Owners (primary contact person for questions and advice): Secretary to the University.
      2. Policy Officers: Vice President for Institutional Advancement.
         1. These officials are designated by the University President or delegee, with assistance of the Institutional Policy Committee, to have the following roles and authority, as provided in University Rule 1-001:
         2. “A ‘Policy Officer’ will be assigned by the President for each University Policy, and will typically be someone at the executive level of the University (i.e., the President and his/her Cabinet Officers). The assigned Policy Officer is authorized to allow exceptions to the Policy in appropriate cases…. “
         3. “The Policy Officer will identify an ‘Owner’ for each Policy. The Policy Owner is an expert on the Policy topic who may respond to questions about, and provide interpretation of the Policy; and will typically be someone reporting to an executive level position (as defined above), but may be any other person to whom the President or a Vice President has delegated such authority for a specified area of University operations. The Owner has primary responsibility for maintaining the relevant portions of the Regulations Library… .[and] bears the responsibility for determining -requirements of particular Policies… .”

Procedure: Honorary Degrees

1. Procedure
   1. Nomination
      1. Nominations of individuals to be considered for honorary degrees may be submitted to the Secretary to the University by any member of the faculty or staff of the University, as well as by Board members, alumni, and friends of the University. Each nomination should be submitted in writing or electronically, using the nomination form available online. Nominations should contain the full name of the nominee plus and any or all of the following information:
         1. List of academic degrees earned and the institutions granting them.
         2. Career history or experience that is deemed relevant to the nomination.
         3. List of memberships in learned societies, professional association, and civic organizations, etc.
         4. List of significant honors already attained.
         5. Identify any current or past connections or ties to the University.
         6. Any additional comments that add interest or pertinent information concerning the nominee.
      2. Nominations should be submitted to the Secretary to the University according to the following schedule:
         1. For the University’s annual Commencement — not later than May 31st of the previous year.
         2. For Special Convocations — not later than three six months before the date of the Special Convocation.
      3. Other nominations may be invited by members of the Board of Trustees on an ongoing basis.
   2. Selection and Approval
      1. The Secretary to the University will submit the list of nominees to the Honors Committee of the Board of Trustees. This committee, in consultation with the President and Vice President for Institutional Advancement, will make its selection of honorary degree recipients and submit its choice(s) to the full Board of Trustees for final approval.
   3. Confidentiality
      1. All matters pertaining to the nomination and selection of honorary degree candidates are confidential.