Honorary Degrees and Commencement Speaker

     No. 2-9      Rev. 9-6-16   Date 4-19-78

 

 

I. REFERENCE

PPM 1-2, Board of Trustees, Role of

II. POLICY

A. The University shall award honorary degrees to selected individuals whose accomplishments qualify them for such recognition.

B. Beginning with the graduating exercises of June, 1965, such awards have been and will be made semi-annually at both the spring and winter commencement exercises as suitable and qualified nominees are recommended and approved.

C. The Weber State University Honorary Degree and Commencement Speaker Committee will be composed of four faculty members including the chair of the Honorary Degree Committee of the Faculty Senate, three students, two alumni, one University Advancement representative, the provost, the president and three members of the Board of Trustees.  The Board of Trustees members will be appointed annually by the chair of the Board of Trustees.

D. The chair of the Honorary Degree and Commencement Speaker Committee will be appointed by the chair of the Board of Trustees.

III. PROCEDURE

A. Recommendations for nominations for honorary degrees and commencement speakers may be made to the Weber State University Honorary Degree and Commencement Speaker Committee by (1) members of the Board of Trustees, (2) the president of Weber State University, (3) members of Weber State University faculty and staff, (4) WSU students and alumni, 5) members of the community and (6) other interested parties.

B.  Solicitations for nominations are distributed to the groups listed above and accepted by the President’s Office each Fall Semester.  The President’s Office compiles submissions for review by the Honorary Degree and Commencement Speaker Committee.

C.  The Weber State University Honorary Degree and Commencement Speaker Committee shall initially review the submitted nominees independently. After a period of independent review, the committee will meet to discuss and vote on the nominees.  The committee will then vote on and prioritize finalists for honorary degree recipients and commencement speakers.   

D.  The president will submit the recommendations to the Board of Trustees at their regular meeting in December.

E. Extreme care is to be exercised in the selection and nomination of candidates for honorary degrees. Such degrees are to be awarded only for a high plane of accomplishments. All persons suggested or recommended should be protected from publicity, which might provide embarrassment to all parties concerned.

F. The names of all nominees and recommendations for nominees shall remain confidential.

G. All voting by the Weber State University Honorary Degrees and Commencement Speaker Committee shall be by secret ballot.