Honorary Doctoral Degrees                                                UPPS No. 02.03.01
Issue No. 2
Effective Date: 01/15/2008
Review: October 1 E5Y

 

01.       POLICY STATEMENT

01.01  Texas State selectively awards honorary doctorates to individuals who exemplify excellence in academic or philanthropic endeavors. Honorary doctorates may also be awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves through nationally or internationally significant achievements.

02.       ELIGIBILITY FOR HONORARY DOCTORAL DEGREES

02.01  This UPPS establishes a process for awarding honorary doctoral degrees to recognize excellence in public affairs, humanities, the arts, education, business, and the sciences.

 

02.02  Honorary degrees at Texas State are awarded in accordance with guidelines of The Commission of Colleges of SACS which recognizes that honorary degrees may be appropriately awarded for scholarly achievement, attainments which demonstrate unusual creativity, or distinguished service. The integrity of earned degrees, however, should be protected; therefore, the Commission discourages the awarding of earned degrees as honorary degrees or the use of terminology which implies such.

03.       PROCEDURE FOR SELECTING RECIPIENTS

03.01  The President appoints an Honorary Doctoral Degree Committee on September 1 each year composed of the Provost who chairs the committee; the Dean of the Graduate College; one senior administrator and two distinguished faculty members recommended by the Faculty Senate who will serve three-year rotating terms.

 

03.02  The Provost will consider nominations submitted by members of the university community and friends of the University. The Committee reviews nominations for the following:

 

a.   Evidence of extraordinary accomplishments in specified fields;

 

b.   Evidence of meritorious and outstanding contributions to the University, the State, the Nation, internationally, or of distinguished contributions to humanity.

 

03.03  The Provost calls a meeting of the Committee to determine if files should go forward to the President for consideration. The Committee and Provost also recommend the specific Honorary Doctoral Degree to be awarded from the listing below as defined in The Handbook of College and University Administration:

 

Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.), given to persons who have distinguished themselves in the humanities

 

Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), given to a person distinguished in general service to the State, to learning, and to humankind

 

Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.), given to scholars in particular disciplines

 

Doctor of Science (Sc.D.), given to persons who have made distinguished contributions and performed services in the sciences

 

03.04  The President, in consultation with the Provost, will determine names that the University will recommend to the Board of Regents for honorary degrees. The President invites the individual who will be recognized to accept the Honorary Doctoral Degree.

 

03.05  The Provost and Graduate Dean will coordinate the presentation of Honorary Doctoral Degrees.

04.       REVIEWERS OF THIS UPPS

04.01  Reviewers of this UPPS include the following:

 
Position                                                          Date
 
Dean, Graduate College                              October 1 E5Y
                                                                                                            
Provost and Vice President for                   October 1 E5Y
Academic Affairs                                                                                           
           
Chair, Faculty Senate                                   October 1 E5Y                                    

05.       CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

This UPPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas State policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.

Dean of The Graduate College; senior reviewer of this UPPS

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

President