Honorary Degrees | Chapman University
Source: https://www.chapman.edu/academics/provost/honorary-degrees.aspx
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:13
Honorary Degrees | Chapman University
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Honorary Degrees
An honorary degree is a traditional, highly valued recognition in academia, bestowed
upon distinguished individuals who have earned noteworthy respect and esteem in the
wider world. Chapman University confers honorary doctoral degrees on those individuals
whose outstanding contributions and accomplishments exemplify the ideals expressed
in the
Chapman mission statement
. Honorary degree nominations may be put forth by any member of the Chapman community
and are conferred during the University Commencement Ceremony.
Under no circumstance should the nominee be informed that their name has been submitted.
Nominations are to be kept confidential
to avoid potential embarrassment to nominees and the University in the event nominations
are not approved.
Candidates may be awarded one of the following honorary degrees:
Doctor of Arts
,
honoris causa
(D.Art), is conferred upon those individuals whose contributions and service distinctively
fall within the fine and performing arts communities.
Doctor of Humane Letters
,
honoris causa
(L.H.D.), is conferred upon those individuals who have provided exemplary service
to the community (i.e., civic, business, education and philanthropic), or whose accomplishments
are broad in scope and far-reaching. It is the most general of the honorary degrees
awarded.
Doctor of Laws
,
honoris causa
(LL.D.), is conferred upon those individuals who have achieved distinction in governance
or public service or have achieved preeminence in the field of law.
Doctor of Science
,
honoris causa
(D.Sc.), is conferred upon those individuals whose accomplishments in either academia
or the professional world are scientific in nature and/or who have made a significant
contribution to scientific endeavors.
Doctor of the University
,
honoris causa
(D.Univ.), is conferred in recognition of excellence and extraordinary achievement
in a significant area of human endeavor and/or demonstrated a significant commitment
toward the goals or welfare of the University, sacrificial service or altruism to
humanitarian causes.
Procedure
Toggle Section
Criteria
Chapman awards honorary degrees to living individuals.
The individual has distinguished themselves through their accomplishments in or contributions
to those areas listed in the five awards above.
Where appropriate, special emphasis should be placed on individuals whose significant
achievements are national or international in scope.
Individuals who have distinguished themselves through their substantial contributions
to the Chapman community may be considered for an honorary degree.
Nominees must come to Chapman University to receive their degrees. Degrees may be
conferred up to three years after approval by the Board of Trustees.
Nomination Process
Submission
Based on accomplishments and contributions, nominator will share potential candidate
for honorary degree with the respective
Dean
.
Following consultation with the Dean,
the nominator will submit an Honorary Degree Nomination form
.
The deadline for nominations is the third Friday in September.
Review and Selection
Human Resources will conduct background research on all nominees.
The results will be shared with the Provost, who will confer with the Faculty Senate
President and the Chair of the Academic Committee of the Board of Trustees (ACBOT),
if needed.
At the Executive Session of the October Faculty Senate meeting, the Faculty Senate
President will present the full list of nominees for a vote.
The top five vote-getters will be forwarded to the ACBOT for deliberation, along with
the full tally of all nominees.
At the Executive Session of the November ACBOT meeting, the Provost will present the
top five nominees for a vote.
The ACBOT may also choose to approve additional nominees from the full list, based
on vote tallies, provided those nominees received a majority vote from the Faculty
Senate. This provision applies only to nominees in the Doctor of the University
,
honoris causa
(D.Univ.) category.
The Provost will present the ACBOT approved nominees as part of the consent agenda
at the December Board of Trustees meeting for a final vote on honorary degree recipients.
Notification
Approved nominees are contacted by the President of the University to determine acceptance
and appearance at the University Commencement Ceremony. Honoraria are not paid to
honorary degree recipients.
The Office of Commencement will inform the nominator and respective dean of the following:
candidate approval, invitation from the Office of the President and honorary degree
acceptance.
Award
Recipients of honorary degrees are invited to and receive the following:
Honorary Degree dinner
Framed diploma with citation
University Commencement Ceremony
Diploma
Doctoral hood with appropriate velvet color (white for Arts or Humane Letters, gold
for Science, purple for Laws, black for Doctor of the University)
Doctoral regalia to wear for ceremony (if recipient does not own one)
Responsibilities
Toggle Section
Nominating Entity
Citation:
The nominating academic or administrative unit is required to draft language for the
official citation to be awarded to the recipient.
Host:
Charged with the responsibility of acting as host to the recipient when they come
to the University to accept the degree. Examples listed below.
Receive recipient at the airport and/or upon arrival to campus.
Ground transportation between events.
Hospitality with colleagues and students.
Arrange master classes or student interactions.
Escort recipient and their guests to the Honorary Degree Dinner and University Commencement
Ceremony.
Obtain/deliver commemorative gifts and other appropriate actions.
If recipient is receiving an honorary degree outside of the University Commencement
Ceremony, the Commencement Office will provide only regalia rental, hood, and degree
awards.
Office of Commencement
Liaison to honorary degree recipient prior to arrival on campus.
Expenses associated with campus visit:
Economy class travel
Lodging on campus (if available)
Create and produce degree awards
Rent/order doctoral regalia/hood
Honorary degree dinner hosted for all honorees
Provost
Provost Leadership Team
Academic Deans
Offices
Provost List
Honorary Degrees
Provost Student Advisory Board
Contact Us
Questions?
The deadline and nomination form can be found under the "Nomination Process" drop-down.
Contact Us
Back to top
Back to top
©
Skip to main content
Skip over carousel to next section
Off
Office of the Provost
Academics
Office of the Provost
Academic Calendar
Degrees & Programs
Schools and Colleges
Undergraduate Academics
Graduate Education
Course Catalogs
Libraries
Academic Freedom
Academic Integrity
Learning at Chapman
Provost
Provost Leadership Team
Academic Deans
Offices
Provost List
Honorary Degrees
Provost Student Advisory Board
Contact Us
Follow
»
Honorary Degrees
An honorary degree is a traditional, highly valued recognition in academia, bestowed
upon distinguished individuals who have earned noteworthy respect and esteem in the
wider world. Chapman University confers honorary doctoral degrees on those individuals
whose outstanding contributions and accomplishments exemplify the ideals expressed
in the
Chapman mission statement
. Honorary degree nominations may be put forth by any member of the Chapman community
and are conferred during the University Commencement Ceremony.
Under no circumstance should the nominee be informed that their name has been submitted.
Nominations are to be kept confidential
to avoid potential embarrassment to nominees and the University in the event nominations
are not approved.
Candidates may be awarded one of the following honorary degrees:
Doctor of Arts
,
honoris causa
(D.Art), is conferred upon those individuals whose contributions and service distinctively
fall within the fine and performing arts communities.
Doctor of Humane Letters
,
honoris causa
(L.H.D.), is conferred upon those individuals who have provided exemplary service
to the community (i.e., civic, business, education and philanthropic), or whose accomplishments
are broad in scope and far-reaching. It is the most general of the honorary degrees
awarded.
Doctor of Laws
,
honoris causa
(LL.D.), is conferred upon those individuals who have achieved distinction in governance
or public service or have achieved preeminence in the field of law.
Doctor of Science
,
honoris causa
(D.Sc.), is conferred upon those individuals whose accomplishments in either academia
or the professional world are scientific in nature and/or who have made a significant
contribution to scientific endeavors.
Doctor of the University
,
honoris causa
(D.Univ.), is conferred in recognition of excellence and extraordinary achievement
in a significant area of human endeavor and/or demonstrated a significant commitment
toward the goals or welfare of the University, sacrificial service or altruism to
humanitarian causes.
Procedure
Toggle Section
Criteria
Chapman awards honorary degrees to living individuals.
The individual has distinguished themselves through their accomplishments in or contributions
to those areas listed in the five awards above.
Where appropriate, special emphasis should be placed on individuals whose significant
achievements are national or international in scope.
Individuals who have distinguished themselves through their substantial contributions
to the Chapman community may be considered for an honorary degree.
Nominees must come to Chapman University to receive their degrees. Degrees may be
conferred up to three years after approval by the Board of Trustees.
Nomination Process
Submission
Based on accomplishments and contributions, nominator will share potential candidate
for honorary degree with the respective
Dean
.
Following consultation with the Dean,
the nominator will submit an Honorary Degree Nomination form
.
The deadline for nominations is the third Friday in September.
Review and Selection
Human Resources will conduct background research on all nominees.
The results will be shared with the Provost, who will confer with the Faculty Senate
President and the Chair of the Academic Committee of the Board of Trustees (ACBOT),
if needed.
At the Executive Session of the October Faculty Senate meeting, the Faculty Senate
President will present the full list of nominees for a vote.
The top five vote-getters will be forwarded to the ACBOT for deliberation, along with
the full tally of all nominees.
At the Executive Session of the November ACBOT meeting, the Provost will present the
top five nominees for a vote.
The ACBOT may also choose to approve additional nominees from the full list, based
on vote tallies, provided those nominees received a majority vote from the Faculty
Senate. This provision applies only to nominees in the Doctor of the University
,
honoris causa
(D.Univ.) category.
The Provost will present the ACBOT approved nominees as part of the consent agenda
at the December Board of Trustees meeting for a final vote on honorary degree recipients.
Notification
Approved nominees are contacted by the President of the University to determine acceptance
and appearance at the University Commencement Ceremony. Honoraria are not paid to
honorary degree recipients.
The Office of Commencement will inform the nominator and respective dean of the following:
candidate approval, invitation from the Office of the President and honorary degree
acceptance.
Award
Recipients of honorary degrees are invited to and receive the following:
Honorary Degree dinner
Framed diploma with citation
University Commencement Ceremony
Diploma
Doctoral hood with appropriate velvet color (white for Arts or Humane Letters, gold
for Science, purple for Laws, black for Doctor of the University)
Doctoral regalia to wear for ceremony (if recipient does not own one)
Responsibilities
Toggle Section
Nominating Entity
Citation:
The nominating academic or administrative unit is required to draft language for the
official citation to be awarded to the recipient.
Host:
Charged with the responsibility of acting as host to the recipient when they come
to the University to accept the degree. Examples listed below.
Receive recipient at the airport and/or upon arrival to campus.
Ground transportation between events.
Hospitality with colleagues and students.
Arrange master classes or student interactions.
Escort recipient and their guests to the Honorary Degree Dinner and University Commencement
Ceremony.
Obtain/deliver commemorative gifts and other appropriate actions.
If recipient is receiving an honorary degree outside of the University Commencement
Ceremony, the Commencement Office will provide only regalia rental, hood, and degree
awards.
Office of Commencement
Liaison to honorary degree recipient prior to arrival on campus.
Expenses associated with campus visit:
Economy class travel
Lodging on campus (if available)
Create and produce degree awards
Rent/order doctoral regalia/hood
Honorary degree dinner hosted for all honorees
Provost
Provost Leadership Team
Academic Deans
Offices
Provost List
Honorary Degrees
Provost Student Advisory Board
Contact Us
Questions?
The deadline and nomination form can be found under the "Nomination Process" drop-down.
Contact Us
Back to top
Back to top
©