Purpose

The practice of awarding honorary doctorate degrees is a long-standing tradition in higher education and within ²Ø¾«¸ó. It is the policy of ²Ø¾«¸ó to award honorary degrees on a selective basis to distinguished individuals who merit special recognition of their exemplary achievements in alignment with the University’s mission and values.

Scope

This policy applies to university faculty, staff, and honorees.

Policy

• An honorary degree may be awarded to an individual who satisfies one or more of the following criteria:
  1. Eminence, in the course of a career, in some field of scholarship, in public service, or in an artistic, literary, governmental, religious, financial, or other endeavor.
  2. A significant reason for recognition by the University, in the form of an association or relationship with the University or a valued relationship between the individual’s achievements and the mission or life of the University.
  3. In wholehearted commitment to the development of ²Ø¾«¸ó.
  4. Through excellence in any calling or occupation which visibly contributed to the development of society and serves as a model for present and future generations.

Restrictions

1. Persons not eligible for consideration include:
   • Anyone with a documented conflict of interest with the University, its leadership, or its mission and values.
   • Current faculty and staff of ²Ø¾«¸ó.
   • Sitting heads of state or incumbent elected officials will be considered only under special circumstances.
2. Prohibition on Fees and Honoraria
   • Except under unusual circumstances when the University President and Provost determine otherwise, an honorary degree recipient will not receive a speaker’s fee or honorarium for accepting an honorary degree or delivering an address.
3. Presence at Commencement or Other Official Ceremonies
   • No honorary degree will be conferred unless the recipient is present. If a recipient is unable to attend the ceremony, the conferral of the degree can be deferred to an alternate opportunity.

Procedures

1. The following persons or constituent components are authorized to nominate someone to receive an honorary degree:
   • The University President
   • The College of Arts and Humanities
   • The College of Education and Human Services
   • The College of Science, Technology, and Health
   • The Plaster College of Business & Entrepreneurship
2. In the case of any nomination forwarded to the University President and/or Provost which has not been. approved by the faculty in the respective colleges, the President will consult with the chair of the Faculty Council.
3. An amount of focused due diligence will be conducted to ensure the nominee’s qualification and eligibility for the degree.
4. The University President and Provost shall consider nominees for honorary degrees to be presented at a school’s commencement ceremonies.

Revocation

1. Honorary degrees are awarded for life. Awardees reflect the values and personify the mission of the University.   If at any time during the life of an awardee the University becomes aware of documented evidence of criminal, unethical or immoral behavior or activity, the University has the right to rescind the honorary degree.  
2. The President and Provost will consider evidence warranting the revocation of an honorary degree. They will review and consider this evidence and, where they find sufficient evidence to warrant revocation, they may decide to revoke the honorary degree. An awardee will be notified in writing of their decision.

Please direct any questions about this policy to the Office of the Provost.