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Office of the Provost

»Honorary Degrees

An honorary degree is a traditional, highly valued recognition in academia, bestowed upon distinguished individuals who have earned noteworthy respect and esteem in the wider world. Chapman University awards honorary doctoral degrees to individuals whose outstanding contributions and accomplishments exemplify the ideals expressed in the Chapman mission statement. Chapman University bestows honorary degrees in the following categories:

Doctor of Arts, honoris causa (D.Art), for individuals whose contributions and service distinctively fall within the fine and performing arts communities.

Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa (L.H.D.), for individuals who have provided exemplary service to the community (i.e., civic, business, education and philanthropic), or whose accomplishments are broad in scope and far-reaching.

Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.), for individuals who have achieved distinction in governance or public service or have achieved preeminence in the field of law.

Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.), for individuals whose accomplishments in either academia or the professional world are scientific in nature and/or who have made a significant contribution to scientific endeavors.

Doctor of the University, honoris causa (D.Univ.), for individuals who have demonstrated a significant commitment toward the goals or welfare of the University, sacrificial service or altruism to humanitarian causes.

Honorary degrees in the category of Doctor of the University are awarded at the discretion of the University President, in consultation with relevant parties as deemed necessary. Honorary degrees in all other categories require faculty endorsement. The nomination, review, and selection process for honorary degrees in the faculty endorsed categories are outlined below.

Under no circumstance should the nominee be informed that their name has been submitted. Nominations are to be kept confidential to avoid potential embarrassment to nominees and the University in the event nominations are not approved

Procedure


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Criteria

  • Chapman awards honorary degrees to living individuals.
  • The individual has distinguished themselves through their accomplishments in or contributions to those areas listed in the five awards above.
  • Where appropriate, special emphasis should be placed on individuals whose significant achievements are national or international in scope.
  • Individuals who have distinguished themselves through their substantial contributions to the Chapman community may be considered for an honorary degree.
  • Nominees must come to Chapman University to receive their degrees. Degrees may be conferred up to three years after approval by the Board of Trustees.

Nomination

The Provost sends out a request for nominations. Nominees should have some connection to Chapman University or the good likelihood of a future connection. Current employees of Chapman University are not eligible for nomination. Only faculty members and members of senior staff may nominate individuals for honorary degrees in the faculty-endorsed categories.

  • Faculty Nominations
    • Faculty members must first confer with their Dean regarding a potential nomination.
    • The Dean will consult with the Provost.
    • Upon joint approval by the Dean and the Provost, the faculty member may submit the nomination using the Honorary Degree Nomination form.
    • No nominations submitted through any other method will be accepted.
  • Senior Staff Nominations
    • Members of senior staff must submit nominations using the Honorary Degree Nomination form.
    • Prior approval from the Provost is required before submitting a nomination.
    • Approval from the Dean is not required.
    • When the Provost is the nominator, no prior approval is necessary.
  • The deadline for nominations is the third Friday in September.

Review and Selection

  • Human Resources will conduct background research on all nominees.
    • The results will be shared with the Provost, who will confer with the Faculty Senate President and the Chair of the Academic Committee of the Board of Trustees (ACBOT), as appropriate.
  • At the Executive Session of the October Faculty Senate meeting, the Faculty Senate President will present the full list of nominees for a vote.
    • The Faculty Senate votes on the nominations.
    • To be eligible for further consideration, a nominee must receive approval from a majority of the votes cast.
    • The three nominees receiving the highest number of favorable votes, provided each has received majority approval, are forwarded to the Provost for further consideration.
    • All nominations and voting results must remain confidential.
  • At the Executive Session of the November ACBOT meeting, the Provost will present all nominees for a vote.
  • The Provost will present the ACBOT approved nominees as part of the consent agenda at the December Board of Trustees meeting for a final vote on honorary degree recipients.

Notification

Approved nominees are contacted by the University President to determine acceptance and appearance at the University Commencement Ceremony. Honoraria are not paid to honorary degree recipients.

The Office of Commencement will inform the nominator and respective dean of the following: candidate approval, invitation from the Office of the President and honorary degree acceptance.

Award

Recipients of honorary degrees are invited to and receive the following:

  • Honorary Degree dinner
  • University Commencement Ceremony
    • Diploma
    • Doctoral hood with appropriate velvet color (white for Arts or Humane Letters, gold for Science, purple for Laws, black for Doctor of the University)
    • Doctoral regalia available for loan

Responsibilties


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Nominating Entity

Host: Charged with the responsibility of acting as host to the recipient when they come to the University to accept the degree. Examples listed below.

  • Receive recipient at the airport and/or upon arrival to campus.
  • Ground transportation between events.
  • Hospitality with colleagues and students.
  • Arrange master classes or student interactions.
  • Escort recipient and their guests to the Honorary Degree Dinner and University Commencement Ceremony.
  • Obtain/deliver commemorative gifts and other appropriate actions.
  • If recipient is receiving an honorary degree outside of the University Commencement Ceremony, the Commencement Office will provide only regalia rental, hood, and degree awards.

Office of Commencement

  • Liaison to honorary degree recipient prior to arrival on campus.
  • Expenses associated with campus visit:
    • Economy class travel
    • Lodging on campus (if available)
    • Create and produce degree awards
    • Rent/order doctoral regalia/hood
    • Honorary degree dinner hosted for all honorees
 

Questions?

The deadline and nomination form can be found under the "Nomination Process" drop-down.