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Honorary Degree Nomination Form
Objective: The granting of honorary degrees is a long-standing tradition of colleges and universities. It is intended to honor a person who has a sustained record of achievement of lasting significance. Other than the earned doctorate, the honorary degree is the highest recognition that colleges and universities can bestow and is therefore not lightly given.
Criteria: Persons nominated for consideration for honorary degrees should have made distinguished and broad contributions to society. These may be in the traditional areas of scholarship and creative arts, research and development, the learned professions, public service, or business and industry. Eastern Connecticut State University may bestow honorary doctoral degrees on individuals of exceptional accomplishment and distinction who have made significant contributions to the University, region, state, nation, or the world, or who have demonstrated a consistently outstanding record of accomplishment in their field of endeavor. Honorary degrees may, in exceptional circumstances, also be awarded to persons who, though they have not achieved national or statewide recognition, have made an especially outstanding and significant contribution to Eastern Connecticut State University or to higher education.
The honorary degree may be conferred by Eastern Connecticut State University on those exhibiting the following:
Exceptional Achievement: The most fundamental requirement is that the individual has achieved sustained, noteworthy, and lasting distinction in their field or through public service. This can be in areas like:
Impact and Significance: The individual's contributions should have had a significant impact—often national or international—and should extend well beyond the boundaries of a typical career or geographical area.
Alignment with Institutional Values: The candidate's achievements and character should be evaluated based on how well they align with the mission of Eastern Connecticut State University.
Reputation and Recognition: Recipients should have a strong, sustained reputation and may have already received other national or international recognition for their accomplishments.
Limitations: To insulate the honorary degree from partisanship, to protect the award from possible conflict of interest, and to protect nominees from possibly compromising positions, the following categories of individuals are ineligible to receive an honorary degree from Eastern Connecticut State University:
Persons in any of the above categories could be eligible for consideration two years or more after they had vacated office or terminated employment.
No degrees shall be awarded in absentia. In awarding honorary degrees, Eastern Connecticut State University does not assume any legal obligation. Normally, degree recipients do not receive honoraria. However, keynote speakers receiving honorary degrees may also receive honoraria. Eastern Connecticut State University shall assume all expenses incurred by the recipients that are associated with their participation in the commencement ceremony where an honorary degree is awarded.
Honorary Degree Nominations: The ECSU President shall solicit nominations from current full-time faculty, staff, and administrators of the University in the fall semester of each academic year. Nominations must be accompanied by written information on each candidate’s record of achievements and significant relationship, if any, to Eastern Connecticut State University, higher education, or the State of Connecticut. These candidates will be evaluated solely on the merit of their credentials and the criteria established in these guidelines.
The nominator will assume full responsibility for gathering all information required for the assessment of the nominee and will provide a biographical sketch and other needed documentation. The nominations must contain compelling reasons why it is appropriate for Eastern Connecticut State University to honor a particular individual. Therefore, nominations must be supported by individuals who are knowledgeable in the nominee’s field of accomplishment and who are in a position to make an evaluation.
The ECSU President will screen nominees and recommend, with supporting rationale, all finalists to the Board of Regents for final approval.
All nominations will be kept on file for consideration and do not need to be resubmitted in subsequent years.
Candidates for honorary degrees may be nominated by current full-time faculty, staff, and administrators of the ECSU community. The recommendations shall include written information on each candidate’s record of achievements and significant relationship, if any, to Eastern Connecticut State University, higher education, or the State of Connecticut.