Operating Policies and Procedures Manual

Effective Date:  07/01/91
Policy Number:  03-10
Section:  Administration
Subject:  Honorary Degrees

POLICY

  1. PURPOSE

    The honorary doctoral degree is an official award conferred by the Board of Trustees of Arkansas State University to create a significant and lasting tribute.  It is awarded to individuals whose contributions to humanity give new understanding of our world, ourselves, and our past, present, and future.  A recipient of an honorary degree must have demonstrated outstanding achievement and should serve as an example of excellence to the student body and to others in the Arkansas State University community.

  2. DEGREES AWARDED

    The specific honorary degree to be awarded will be that which is most appropriate to each candidate's field of endeavor.  Degrees that may be considered include:

        Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A.)

        Doctor of Laws (L.L.D.)

        Doctor of Science (Sc.D)

        Doctor of Literature (Litt.D)

        Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.)

  3. CRITERIA

    1. Honorary degrees may be awarded by Arkansas State University to recognize achievement in all parts of the world. Honorary degrees should represent a diversity of fields of endeavor and an appropriate balance between local and non-local, and academic and non-academic recipients.

    2. Nominees for honorary degrees must be distinguished in their respective fields, and their intellectual and humane values must be consistent with the aims of higher education, and with the highest ideals of the candidate's chosen fields.

    3. Service or benefaction to the university in addition to the above criteria may be considered in the awarding of honorary degrees.

  4. LIMITATIONS ON ELIGIBILITY

    1. Under normal circumstances, no degree shall be conferred in absentia.

    2. No person shall be recommended for an honorary degree while a member of the Board of Trustees, faculty, or staff of Arkansas State University.

    3. A candidate for or an appointed or elected incumbent of a local, state, or national office will be recommended for an honorary degree only under especially meritorious circumstances.

  5. HONORARY DOCTORATE COMMITTEE

    1. A university committee consisting of seven members shall be appointed to review nominations for honorary doctorates.  The committee shall include:

      1. Four full professors

        1. Two appointed by the president

        2. One appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Research and Academic Affairs

        3. One appointed by the Faculty Senate

        4. Will serve four-year staggered terms

        5. Must be from different colleges

      2. The Dean of the Graduate School (in the event of prolonged absence, another academic dean)

      3. The Director of the Honors Program

      4. One administrative representative appointed by the president

    2. The Dean of the Graduate School will serve as Chair, and the Chair will be a voting member.

    3. Meetings will be called at the discretion of the Chair or by the president of Arkansas State University.

  6. PROCEDURES

    1. Nomination forms will be available in the Office of the Graduate Dean, and nominations will be accepted in that office throughout the year.

    2. Nominations will be kept confidential to avoid potential embarrassment to the nominee and to the university.

    3. Nominations may be submitted by any person or group on campus or off campus.

    4. Letters of nomination will not be acknowledged to protect the confidentiality of the procedure.

    5. Support by six of the seven members is required to advance the nomination.  Nominations that receive fewer than six votes will be removed from further consideration.

    6. The Vice Chancellor for Research and Academic Affairs will review the file of the candidate, make appropriate recommendation with comments, and forward the file.

    7. The president of Arkansas State University:

      1. May reject the candidacy, ending all action, and destroy the file.

      2. May endorse the candidacy, with appropriate comments, and forward the file.

    8. The Board of Trustees:

      1. May approve conferring the honorary degree upon the candidate.

      2. May reject the candidacy, ending all action, and destroy the file.

  7. TIMETABLE

    1. Deadline for accepting nominations:

      1. Under normal circumstances, nominations should be received at least four months prior to the proposed date of conferring the degree.  (Those received less than four months prior to a commencement will be considered as nominations for the following year.)

      2. It should be possible in unusual circumstances to expedite the procedures if necessary. However, adequate time must be taken to assure that good judgment prevails at all levels of the selection process.

    2. The honorary doctorate, when awarded, will be conferred at the May commencement, except under extraordinary circumstances.

      1. More than one honorary degree may be conferred at an event.

      2. The conferring of an honorary degree should be a special and extraordinary tribute and should not be expected to occur routinely at every commencement.

(Adopted by the Arkansas State University Board of Trustees on August 15, 1986.)

 

 

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Last updated on 02/16/2004