Honorary Degrees
What do such notables as Coretta Scott King, Elie Wiesel, Christiane Amanpour, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Jesse Jackson, Lyndon B. Johnson, Aaron Copland, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Margaret Chase Smith have in common? They all are among an elite group of individuals who have been awarded honorary doctoral degrees from the University of Rhode Island since 1941.
Each year the URI Honorary Degree Committee invites community members to nominate candidates for honorary degrees to be conferred at the Commencement Ceremonies.
For Commencement 2013, nominations must be received by October 26, 2012.
Confidentiality
All nominations are considered confidential and the Committee recommends and asks that the names of candidates who have been nominated remain confidential. Their names should only be known to those who join in writing letters of reference on behalf of the nominated candidate.
The Committee submits nominees to the president for consideration. With his support, the president submits candidates for approval by the Board of Governors of Higher Education. When the entire process is complete, the Honorary Degree recipients are announced by the president to the University Community and the media.
How to Nominate Someone
It's easy, but your submission must be as complete as possible to provide the Honorary Degree Committee with all of the information needed to consider in evaluating candidates.
Start by downloading a nomination form. This will accompany your nomination materials. Gather background information and related details in support of your nomination. Submit all information via email to Donna Williams, donna@uri.edu. If you have any questions please call 874-4410.
Again, for Commencement 2013, complete nominations must be received via email by Friday, October 26, 2012.
