» Honorary Degrees

• Chapman awards honorary degrees to living individuals.
• The individual has distinguished themselves through their accomplishments in or contributions to those areas listed in items 1-5 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.

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.
• Results will be shared with the Faculty Senate President, Academic Committee of the Board of Trustees (ACBOT) Chair and the Provost.
  • These individuals will confer on the merits of the nominees.
• 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 nominees are forwarded to the ACBOT for deliberation, alongside the rest of the list.
  • Tallies for all nominees will be provided.
• At the Executive Session of the November ACBOT meeting, the Provost will present the top five nominees nominees for a vote.
  • ACBOT may approve additional nominees from the full list, per tally, provided they were supported by a majority of votes cast by the Senate, only in the Doctor of the University, honoris causa (D.Univ.) category.
• The Provost will present the ACBOT approved nominees to the Board of Trustees at the December meeting where they will vote on final honorary degree recipients.

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.

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 (if recipient does not own one)

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.

• 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