Procedure VI.6000.D.a, Awarding Honorary Degrees

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Associated Policy

Policy VI.6000.D, Awarding Honorary Degrees

Procedures

Qualifications of Honorary Degree Candidates

Individuals may be nominated for an honorary degree for:

1. enduring, outstanding service to the College or one or more of its constituent communities, or 
2. superlative professional achievement in disciplines or fields served by the College’s educational programs.

The awarding of an honorary degree is limited by the following:

• An individual may only be awarded one honorary degree by the College.
• Honorary degree recipients must attend the commencement ceremony during which the degree will be awarded.
• Current students and employees are ineligible to receive an honorary degree. Former students and employees may be considered after they have been separated from the College for at least two years.
• Current members of the College Board of Trustees or the San Jacinto College Foundation Board are ineligible to receive an honorary degree. Former trustees and Foundation Board members may be considered after they have been separated from the College for at least five years.
• Current or prospective benefactors or individuals with political, legal, or budgetary authority over San Jacinto College or the San Jacinto College Foundation are ineligible to receive an honorary degree. Monetary contributions to or fundraising efforts on behalf of the College or Foundation may not be considered when determining the merit of an individual’s service or achievement.

Awarding of Honorary Degrees

The Board of Trustees will approve honorary degrees that will be bestowed at a commencement ceremony. 

Recipients will be awarded an honorary degree according to the criteria by which they were nominated and approved.

1. Individuals being honored for enduring, outstanding service to the College or its constituent communities will receive an honorary Associate of Humane Letters degree.
2. Individuals being honored for superlative professional achievement in a discipline or field served by the College’s educational programs will be awarded an honorary degree appropriate for the discipline or field. For example, achievement in a field served by a technical program at the College will be recognized with an honorary Associate of Applied Science degree; achievement in liberal or fine arts will be recognized with an honorary Associate of Arts degree; and achievement in math, science, or engineering will be recognized with an honorary Associate of Science degree.

All honorary degrees will be clearly designated and marked as honorary.