Honorary Doctorate Award

Award Criteria

While final authority and approval of recipients for the award of honorary doctorates from Western Carolina University is vested in the Board of Trustees, responsibility for developing recommendations of prospective recipients is assigned to the Chancellor of the University.

The Chancellor will appoint a university-wide advisory committee for consultation in this process. The advisory committee will include: one tenured faculty member from each of three colleges on a rotating basis, the Graduate Dean (or his/her designee), one representative of the administrative divisions on a rotating basis, and the president of the Western Carolina University Alumni Association (or his/her designee). In the event of a tie decision by the advisory board, the chairman of the Board of Trustees will cast the tie-breaking vote. The Chancellor will serve as chair of the advisory committee and will ensure that the following guidelines and procedures are observed:

1. The Chancellor will develop and maintain a list of prospective nominees for honorary doctorates based on his/her comprehensive knowledge of individuals whose distinctive contributions and achievements would qualify them for consideration.

2. The Chancellor may solicit suggestions of potential nominees from the university
community and friends of the institution.

3. All nominations will stay in the file for consideration by the advisory committee for three academic years.

4. Strictest confidentiality will be maintained throughout the entire process. At no time should prospective recipients be informed or learn that they are being considered for this honor.

After consultation with the advisory committee, the Chancellor will prepare and present his/her recommendations, including specific degrees to be awarded and the commencement or ceremonial event for which the presentation is intended, for review and action by the Administration, Governance, and Trusteeship Committee of the Board of Trustees.

In keeping with the established policy to limit the awards at any given ceremony, the Chancellor will ordinarily recommend only one or two recipients for each commencement or ceremonial event.

The Administration, Governance, and Trusteeship Committee will review the Chancellor's recommendations and subsequently present its recommendations to the Board of Trustees.

The Administration, Governance, and Trusteeship Committee will review these guidelines periodically and, consistent with established policy, may alter or revise them as it may determine appropriate.

The "Guidelines for Selection of Nominees for Honorary Doctorates" outlined in this document have been established in accordance with "Policies and Procedures for Awarding Honorary Doctorates" adopted by the Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University on June 4, 1997, with a second amendment of the document on September 6, 2013.

Previous Winners