Honorary Degree Committee

President Coleman and honorary degree recipients President Mary Sue Coleman is pictured at Winter Commencement 2009 with honorary doctorate recipients (left to right): Helen Thomas, Jeff Daniels (back), Grace Lee Boggs (front), President Mary Sue Coleman, and Edward O. Wilson. Jeff Daniels spoke at Winter 2009 commencement exercises.

Introduction

The conferring of honorary degrees is one way in which the University recognizes individuals distinguished by accomplishments consonant with the overarching mission of the University.

Nominees may be eminent scholars, scientists, artists, or professionals who have advanced their disciplines in important ways, or they may be individuals outside of the academic world who have made particularly distinguished contributions to society in areas such as public service, business, religion, government, or the arts. The University strives for a robust pool of honorary degree recipients enriched by individuals from all backgrounds; therefore encourage nominations of distinguished women, members of minority groups, and other individuals with a connection to the University of Michigan whose accomplishments we may wish to celebrate. We also find it rewarding to honor individuals who have not already been publicly recognized by a number of other institutions.

Honorary Degree Recipient Selection Process

The Honorary Degree Committee recommends recipients for honorary degrees. The dean of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies chairs the committee; members representing the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses, students and alumni are appointed by the Board of Regents on the recommendation of the president. The president and several executive officers serve ex-officio. The Honorary Degree Committee typically meets twice a year – fall and spring – to consider nominations and forwards its recommendations to the president and the Board of Regents.

2009-2010 Honorary Degree Committee Members »

For additional information regarding recommendations for honorary degrees, please see the bylaws of the University of Michigan Board of Regents.

Honorary Degree Criteria, Guidelines, and Eligibility

Criteria

Nominees should meet one or more of the following:

The nominee should have demonstrable distinguished achievement in an activity related to the University's missions of research and scholarship, education, or service.
Ideally, there should be a particular reason for recognition of the nominee by the University of Michigan, such as an association with the University or a relationship of his or her achievement to work that is unique or highly characteristic of Michigan.
The honorary degree should have a special meaning to the individual being recognized.

Guidelines

Some types of accomplishments may not generally be regarded in themselves as sufficient reason for consideration, i.e., holding a public office, particular acts of philanthropy, achievement of popular acclaim, or service to the University or to another educational institution.

Eligibility

Holders of Political Office

Heads of state of other countries may be considered for honorary degrees. Others actively serving in political office are not eligible to receive honorary degrees with the following exceptions:

President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
Governor of Michigan

Exceptions to this policy can be made only by the president, with the advice of the chair of the Honorary Degree Committee.

University of Michigan Faculty and Staff

University of Michigan faculty members, active or emeritus (including tenure track faculty, lecturers, research faculty and research scientists, clinical faculty, librarians, archivists and curators), are not eligible, except under extraordinary circumstances.
Faculty who have left the University of Michigan to accept a position elsewhere may be considered.
Visiting faculty would not ordinarily be deemed to be eligible during their appointments at the University of Michigan.
Other active employees of the University are also ineligible for consideration, except under extraordinary circumstances.

Exceptions to these policies can be made only by the president, with the advice of the chair of the Honorary Degree Committee.

Commencement Speakers

Commencement speakers are selected by the president. It is a University of Michigan tradition that individuals delivering the commencement address also receive honorary degrees; therefore, nominations for commencement speakers follow the honorary degree nomination process. On occasion, someone not being conferred an honorary degree gives an address.

To submit a nomination for commencement speaker, please review the guidelines and submission form and be sure to complete the field regarding nominee’s appropriateness to speak.

Recent Commencement Speakers (PDF)

For more information about commencement exercises visit http://www.commencement.umich.edu.

Honorary Degree Staff Contacts

Lisa Connolly, Project Manager, President’s Office; limajeff@umich.edu, 734-615-6275

Homer Rose, Assistant Dean, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies; hcrosejr@umich.edu, 734-764-4400