Honorary Degrees

DATE: September 16, 2009
TO: All Faculty
SUBJECT: Call for Honorary Degree Nominations

I am writing to encourage you to identify candidates to nominate for honorary degrees. These honorary degrees, which recognize distinguished contributions to the University, the State, the nation, or the world at large, will be awarded at an upcoming May or December commencement.

University policy requires all nominations to come from an "organized faculty unit" (e.g., college, department, or program), supported by a vote of the relevant faculty group. Thus, you should work through your appropriate unit in bringing any nominations forward. No more than one nomination from a single college or faculty will be approved in any one year.

In proposing a candidate, you and your nominating unit should provide to your dean the nominee's curriculum vitae and a statement (maximum 500 words) indicating why the award is appropriate. This statement should focus on the significance of the nominee’s work, drawing clear and particular attention to the nominee’s connection to the University, the Tucson community, or the State of Arizona. Exceptions to this general rule may be made if the case is compelling. The dean will forward the nomination together with the result of the college faculty vote and his/her own comments to me.

Honorary degree nominations are due in the College Dean’s Office by November 16, 2009 and returned by the dean with the college faculty vote and comments to the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost by December 1, 2009.

The Honorary Degrees: Policy and Procedures is available at: http://provost.web.arizona.edu/degreepolicy.pdf

Meredith Hay, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost

xc:   Dr. J.C. Mutcher, Chair,
        Advisory Committee on Honorary Degrees