Policies & Procedures

Degrees

Policy on Honorary Degrees and Distinguished Service Awards - 1D3

Structure and Responsibilities

1. This Committee shall operate as a standing Committee of the Welfare and Adjudication Council of the Faculty Senate.
   
   
2. No later than the third week of the Fall and Spring terms, the Chairperson shall distribute appropriate guidelines to the University Community with a request for nominations for Honorary Degrees and Distinguished Service Awards. Nominations will be accepted any time. All nominations received before January 1 will be evaluated for inclusion in the Spring graduation ceremonies of the following year. Every nominator should submit their nominations in writing to the Chairperson.
   
   
3. The first meeting of the Committee in any academic year shall be held as soon as possible following the start of the Spring semester. Material on nominees will be distributed to all members of the Committee in advance of that meeting. The Committee shall meet as often as appropriate in order to complete its work. The deadline for the Committee's confidential recommendation of nominees to the Chancellor shall be April 1, with a copy for information to the chairperson of the Welfare and Adjudication Council and President of the Faculty Senate.
   
   
4. The SIUE Foundation, Emeritus College, Office of the Chancellor, and Faculty Senate shall each appoint a representative to the four-member Core Committee.
   
   
5. At the beginning of the Fall semester, prior to distributing the nomination guidelines, the Core Committee will elect a committee chair who will preside over the distribution of the nomination guidelines, receive nominations, distribute nominee information to the committee and constituency representatives, and communicate the final nominations to the Chancellor.
   
   
6. Prior to the evaluation deadline, the committee shall identify representatives of as many of the following constituencies who will commit to evaluating received nominations and who shall be considered voting members of the committee until the end of the evaluation period:
   
   • College of Arts & Sciences
   • School of Business
   • School of Dental Medicine
   • School of Education, Health & Human Behavior
   • School of Engineering
   • Library & Information Services
   • School of Nursing
   • School of Pharmacy
   • Council for Belonging and Equity
   • SIUE East St. Louis Center
   • SIUE Emeriti Faculty Association
   • Staff Senate
   • Student Senate
   • Provost's Office.

The Committee shall have responsibility for obtaining nominations for Honorary Degrees and Distinguished Service Awards and for making recommendations to the Chancellor from such nominations. It will be the responsibility of each Committee member to publicize the call for nominations to their own colleagues, e.g., announcements at faculty meetings, written interoffice communications. The Committee, however, is free to consider people other than those nominated by the University community. All nominations will be made in conformance with University policy and the Policies of the Board of Trustees.

Policies and Procedures

The following policies and procedures are established for consideration for Honorary Degrees and Distinguished Service Awards:

1. A candidate for an Honorary Degree may be any person, as specified in the Policies of the Board of Trustees, who has made significant contributions to cultural, educational, scientific, economic, social, humanitarian, or other worthy fields of endeavor. Degrees may not be awarded to regular or to Emeritus or Emerita faculty, administrators, staff, or students in recognition of achievements while employed or enrolled at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Holders of political offices selected on a partisan basis or candidates for elective office may be considered under exceptional circumstances. While some prior association with the State of Illinois may make the nominee especially appropriate, it is not a necessary condition for the awarding of the degree.
   
   
2. Distinguished Service Awards may be presented to any persons who have given outstanding or unusual service to the University, the region, or the State. Ordinarily the University shall have recognized distinguished service on the part of retiring faculty members by awarding Emeritus or Emerita status. Only in the most outstanding of cases may retired faculty be honored for their contributions.
   
   

   Faculty, administrators, staff members, and students presently employed or enrolled at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, holders of political office selected on a partisan basis, or candidates for elective office may qualify for such awards under exceptional circumstances.

3. Honorary Degrees and Distinguished Service Awards may be presented at a Commencement. The Committee recommends that ordinarily the recipient of an Honorary Degree be asked to participate in symposia prior to the commencement in lieu of delivering a commencement address.
   
   
4. Nominations, stating reasons for awarding such honors, should be accompanied by the following supporting information including all pertinent dates:
   
   1. Full name of nominee for award
   2. Date of birth
   3. Degrees received and granting institutions
   4. Appointments with educational institutions
   5. Relevant career history or experience relevant to the nomination
   6. Significant honors, achievements, contributions
   7. Societies, associations for which a nominee holds membership
   8. Major publications
   9. Any other pertinent information

Approved by Chancellor effective 6/26/26
This policy was issued on July 1, 2026, replacing the May 17, 2021 version.
Document Reference: 1D3
Origin: OP 12/6/82; WC 1-89/90; WC 2-91/92; WC 1-96/97; WC 8-06/07; OC 5/20/13; WGC 01-20/21; WC 1-25/26