Purpose
From time to time Oakland University honors distinguished individuals of outstanding achievement by conferring honorary degrees. In doing so the University reaffirms its scholarly, creative and humanitarian values and its ties to the wider community. Honorary degrees are awarded only to the individuals who have been selected according to the criteria and procedures outlined below.

Eligibility and Criteria
No current employee of Oakland University may receive an honorary degree but eligibility is otherwise unrestricted. Thus recipients may be drawn from persons with records of accomplishment in such areas as academe, business, government, the professions, or civic, cultural, humanitarian, or public affairs. To receive an honorary degree, an individual should have a record of outstanding achievement within one or more of the areas previously identified. Examples of such achievements include original and creative accomplishments within one or more academic disciplines or significant contributions to humankind’s intellectual, cultural, commercial, aesthetic, social, or civic betterment. Honorary degrees will be awarded only on an occasional basis to individuals of special merit. Consequently, the number and frequency of such awards should reflect their distinctive character.

The Board of Trustees confers honorary degrees. Prior to conferring such degrees, it is the desire of the University Senate that the Board seek the recommendation of the university community through the Honorary Degree Screening Committee, the Senate Steering Committee and the President in the manner described below.

Initial screening of candidates for honorary degrees shall be done by an Honorary Degree Screening Committee. This committee will be a Senate standing committee and will consist of six faculty members and the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (or designee), who will act as chair. The six faculty members will be appointed to staggered three-year terms by the Senate upon nomination by the Steering Committee. Each fall the committee will invite nominations from all members of the university community. Letters of nomination should include a clear statement of the outstanding achievements of the individual that justify the conferral of the degree. Nominators may be contacted by the committee and asked to assist in providing additional biographical material and supporting documentation. In addition to receiving nominations and additional materials from the community, the committee may also solicit letters of nomination and develop additional leads. Nominations from such traditionally underrepresented groups as minorities and women are especially welcomed and encouraged. In developing its recommendations the committee may consult with other individuals or offices internal or external to the campus, as appropriate.

A complete list of previous Honorary Degree Recipients can be found here.

For complete guidelines on nominations, please review the Nominations for Honorary Degree Memo. The call for nominations will be open from October 31, 2012 through December 7, 2012.