Policy 9-002: Honorary Degrees

1. Standards
2. Limitations
3. Confidentiality

Purpose and Scope‌

1. Purpose.

   To define the requirements for the University's highest honor - the honorary doctorate degree.

2. Scope.

Definitions‌

[reserved]

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. Confidentiality‌

   1. All matters pertaining to the nomination and selection of honorary degree candidates are confidential.

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      Sections IV- VII are for user information and are not subject to the approval of the Academic Senate or the Board of Trustees. The Institutional Policy Committee, the Policy Owner, or the Policy Officer may update these sections at any time.

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Policies/ Rules, Procedures, Guidelines, Forms and other Related Resources‌

1. Policies/ Rules. [ reserved ]

2. Procedures, Guidelines, and Forms.

   1. Procedure P9-002

3. Other Related Resources. [ reserved ]

References‌

1. [ reserved ]

Contacts‌

The designated contact officials for this Regulation are

1. Policy Owner(s) (primary contact person for questions and advice): Secretary to the University

2. Policy Officer(s): Vice President for Institutional Advancement

   See Rule 1-001 for information about the roles and authority of policy owners and policy officers.

History‌

Revision History.

1. Current version. Revision 1.

   1. Approved by -- Academic Senate November 1, 2010, and Board of Trustees November 9, 2010, with effective date of November 9, 2010.

   2. Legislative History

   3. Editorial Revisions

      a. Reformatted in compliance with the new regulations library and procedures were removed from the policy and Procedure 9-002 was created.

2. Previous versions.

   1. Revision 0. Effective Date February 10, 1975.

3. Renumbering

   1. Renumbered from Policy and Procedures Manual 1-9.