The window for submitting nominations for 2026 Commencement is now open!

Form is below.

The Nominator will be required to indicate on the form which criteria the Nominee fulfills:

1. The awarding of an honorary degree is recognition of a person whose life and achievements serve as examples of the University’s aspirations for its students. It should be offered well before the end of a career, while the accomplishments are recent and the activities worthy of highest commendations.

2. An honorary degree may be offered to a person who has contributed significantly to the cultural, scientific, and/or social development of the State, nation, or world. The contribution should be sustained over a period of years and should be lasting in nature. One should be able to document the national or international impact of the contributions. The mere holding of an executive position, public office, or professorship for many years is not sufficient. The creativity of the individual and the extraordinary character of the contributions must be evident.

3. The individual receiving an honorary degree should have a sustained reputation over a period of years. The reputation should extend beyond the boundaries of the University and the state and preferably should extend nationally or internationally. Letters of recommendation should manifest the broadness of that reputation. Affiliation or relationship to the State of Connecticut should be regarded as an especially favorable factor, but should not be a sufficient condition for the awarding of an honorary degree.

4. The activities of the individual should contain outstanding contributions in scholarly research, teaching and learning, the arts, public service, or business. The person might be a distinguished scholar in the natural, physical or social sciences, the arts or humanities, or a distinguished person in public life, business, the professions, or the performing arts. Evaluation will be based on the level of intellectual and professional attainment and the significance of the contributions to the enrichment and/or welfare of the state, nation, or world.

5. The Committee will seek to maintain a balance among various fields of activity, both in a given calendar year and in a cycle of years. A program in the awarding of honorary degrees should maintain a reasonable balance between academic and non-academic recipients, and various fields of endeavor.

6. The Committee will make an effort to recognize the achievements of women and minorities, consonant with the equal opportunity goals of the institution.