Policy Title

Criteria for Consideration

An Honorary Degree may be awarded to a person who satisfies the following criteria:

• Recipients of honorary degrees are restricted to those persons outstanding in their contributions or service to the University, State of South Carolina, the nation, the international community, or in their profession or field of endeavor. Areas of excellence shall include, but not be limited to, scholarship; the arts; the learned professions; public service; and cultural, scientific, economic, or humanitarian activities.

• Candidates should represent the highest values of the University. Strength of character as it relates to the values and mission of the University is essential.           

Nomination Process

All constituents of Winthrop University may submit nominations for an honorary degree. Nominations for honorary degrees should be made using the nomination form. The nomination form should be submitted to the Office of the Provost. Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

The nomination will be reviewed by the Honorary Degree Review Committee consisting of:

Chief Academic Officer

Chief Faculty Marshal

Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees

Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Executive Director of the Winthrop University Alumni Association

Chief of Staff

The review committee will carefully consider the submitted nominations and request additional information on the nominees, if needed. The review committee may select up to four highly qualified candidates and will present them, along with a list of all submitted nominations, to the President of Winthrop University.  The President shall review and rank order the four candidates and present them to the Board of Trustees for approval. 

Invitation and Conferral

Winthrop University should not award more than two honorary degrees at each commencement ceremony. It is not mandatory to award any honorary degrees. The availability of highly qualified candidates shall control the awarding of honorary degrees. 

Generally, no honorary degree shall be awarded in absentia, except when awarded posthumously. Accordingly, the President shall customarily engage in a cycle of invitations until one or more are accepted.

Persons selected as candidates for conferral of an honorary degree shall be notified privately of the proposed honor by the President and given the opportunity to accept or decline the offer.

The Board of Trustees shall vote to confer degrees to those candidates accepting the invitation to be honored by the University.

The University may award an honorary degree to an approved candidate at any time within two years of the Board’s vote to confer the degree. After that time, the candidate’s nomination must be reconsidered.

Citation and Presentation

The honorary degree citation shall be prepared by the President or his or her designee.

The honorary degree should be awarded at a Winthrop University Commencement ceremony. The degree may be awarded at a significant occasion other than commencement if deemed appropriate.

Type of Degree

The President, in consultation with the Provost, shall determine the degree awarded (such as Doctor of Humane Letters or Doctor of Science). The degree shall be designated “Honoris Causa.”

Restrictions

Honorary degrees shall not be awarded to active faculty, administrators, staff, or current trustees except under special circumstances.

Honorary degrees shall not be awarded to active politicians engaged in political campaigns for office in an election year. In unusual circumstances, however, and when warranted, an exception to this policy may be made with the approval of both the President and the Board of Trustees.

Confidentiality

All honorary degree nominations and the honorary degree deliberation process shall be confidential. No discussions concerning nominees should be conducted outside the formal evaluation and selection meetings.

Please see the Commencement website for the nomination form and to see a list of past recipients of an honorary degree.

Honorary degree nomination form.