OSU Honorary Doctoral Degrees

• Not eligible: current OSU employees and recently retired OSU employees (in the past three years).
• Not eligible: currently elected or appointed state officials, members of the OSU Board of Trustees, and members of the OSU Foundation Board of Trustees.

The University may bestow an honorary doctorate on an individual who meets one or more of the follow criteria:

• Distinguished scholarship - such as major breakthroughs in knowledge and/or its application in any discipline.
• Distinction in creative arts - such as the development of new frontiers in literature, visual art, performing arts, design, engineering, or other fields.
• Distinction in public service - such as outstanding contributions in statesmanship, administration, legislative activity, the judiciary, or non-governmental civic activity.
• Extraordinary achievements in business, industry, and/or labor.

In addition, candidates must exemplify OSU's core values.

Maintaining strict confidentiality in the consideration of honorary doctorate nominations is of utmost importance. Nominators should not inform candidates of their nomination. Ideally, any necessary materials to support the nomination should not be provided by the nominee directly.

Nominators should inform any individuals who provide supporting information or letters of the need for strict confidentiality.

Because of the importance of confidentiality, nominators are encouraged to discuss possible nominations with Alix Gitelman, Honorary Doctorate Committee Chair and Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, as early in the process as possible - and preferably before any materials are assembled - if they have questions about a nominee's eligibility, the likelihood that they will meet criteria, materials, or the nomination process.

To nominate an honorary doctoral degree candidate, nominators should submit, in a single PDF, the following:

1. A letter of support from the nominator. Nominators must be university employees or employees of the University Foundation & Alumni Association.
2. Two additional letters written by individuals who can speak to the contributions, application, and/or impacts of the nominee's work. Letters should be no more than two pages long and written to a general audience.
3. Nominee's CV or resume.

Nominations will be reviewed by The Honorary Degree Committee (HDC) chaired by Alix Gitelman, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, and including the Faculty Senate President or their designee, and the Chair and academic faculty members of the Faculty Senate Faculty Recognition and Awards Committee. The HDC will share their recommendations with the Provost who will forward the HDC summary and, in turn, make recommendation(s) to the President for the President's decision.

Nomination materials should be submitted to Sara Daly, [email protected]. The deadline for nominations is October 15, 2024. Decisions are anticipated by late January 2025.

To submit a nomination, you must be a university employee or an employee of the University Foundation & Alumni Association.