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Every year, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ awards Honorary Degrees to individuals who have distinguished themselves through professional, scholarly, or artistic achievements or through notable contributions to the College or the wider community. Past recipients have included a choreographer, a U.S. Senator, a photographer, a National Geographic millennium explorer, and a banjo-playing international relations advocate, ranging in age from 34 to 94 years.

Honorary degrees are awarded twice a year: at Opening Convocation and Commencement. Opening Convocation Honorary Degree recipients are Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ alumni who in their careers and achievements exemplify the imaginative and resourceful use of their liberal arts education. Commencement Honorary Degree recipients must have demonstrated excellence in their fields and be representatives of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ's values and vision, and need not necessarily be Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ alumni.

The criteria for honorary degrees, approved by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Faculty, are as follows:

Commencement Honorary Degree – Open to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Alumni and non-Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Alumni

Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis.

• Individuals, alumni or not, who have distinguished themselves through professional, scholarly, or artistic achievements or through notable contributions to the College or larger community.
• The Board of Trustees votes on Commencement Honorary Degrees at their November meeting.

Opening Convocation Honorary Degree – Must be Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Alumni

Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis.

• Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ alumni who exemplify the successful application of their liberal arts education at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ, who have demonstrated excellence in their fields, and who are role models for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ students.
• Successful nominations will provide a justification that the nominee is pursuing a course of excellence, innovation or commitment that may lead to notable achievements.
• The distinguished recipients of Alumni Honorary Degrees ordinarily are in mid-career, not at the end of their working lives.
• The Board of Trustees votes on Opening Convocation Honorary Degrees at their February meeting.

Do you know someone whose work should be recognized with a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Honorary Degree? If so, please prepare a nomination!