Honorary Degree Guidelines

Throughout the entire process, up to the time of official announcement, the strictest confidentiality must be observed in all cases. All discussion regarding candidates should be limited to current faculty and trustees. The dignity and integrity of the institution and of the candidates should be honored throughout the process.

Under no circumstances should the nominee be informed that his or her name has been put forward. Not all excellent candidates can be recognized, and knowledge of a failed nomination can be embarrassing and harmful.

Further, the nominator should not solicit letters of support on behalf of the nominee from people outside the University. A nomination including letters from outside sources will be disqualified.

The identity of nominators shall not normally be conveyed to the members of the Honorifics Committee.

The candidates to be chosen for eligibility will exemplify Hardin-Simmons University’s values as an institution, unwavering integrity, uncompromising character, Christian witness, and meet AT LEAST TWO criteria as described below.

1. Professional Accomplishment: Academic and industry accomplishments with sustained achievements of distinction; influential contributions within business, government, academia, military, and/or entrepreneurialism; national/global honors awarded within discipline or interdisciplinary achievements; significant discoveries and research; highest level of academic scholarship and recognition.
2. Commitment to Serve: Impact and contributions to nation and humanity; transformational, influential, and innovative leadership; significant impact and development and mentorship of others; demonstrated commitment to benefiting society; entrepreneurially inspired contributions; commercialization efforts that bring elements to life for positive universal influence.
3. Commitment to Hardin-Simmons University: Profound commitment, involvement, leadership, and service toward the University; exceptional participation, demonstration, and commitment to the betterment of the student body, faculty, and on-campus involvement; and generosity toward the evolution of making Hardin-Simmons University and the community a better place.

The Committee is particularly interested in candidates from diverse backgrounds, and those whose accomplishments might serve to highlight areas in which the University has developed exceptional strength.

Please note that the following nominations will NOT be considered:

1. Existing holders of honorary degrees from the University.
2. Self-nominations or proposals where there is any reason to believe that the intended recipient has encouraged or been actively involved in the nomination.
3. Nominations of political figures who are currently serving in office.
4. Nominations of active HSU faculty, employees, and Trustees. These are eligible for consideration five years after their departure or retirement from HSU. In extraordinary cases, a faculty or staff member or Trustee could be considered one year after departure or retirement from HSU.

HSU does not confer Honorary Degrees posthumously or in absentia. Should a candidate not be available, his or her nomination may be carried over to a subsequent year for reconsideration.

Generally, no more than three such degrees may be awarded in any given academic year. If multiple degrees are to be awarded, they can be divided between the two graduations in any way or may be presented at any one ceremony.

Who can make a nomination for an honorary degree?

Nominations may be made by Hardin-Simmons University alumni (graduates and exes), faculty, staff, emeriti faculty, and members of the university’s recognized boards including Boards of Trustees, Development, Alumni Association, and Young Associates.

What is the deadline to submit a nomination?

Nominations can be submitted at any time. Because of procedural considerations, the best time to submit a nomination is no later than May 1 or November 1. Approved nominations will be active for three years from the date of approval by the Committee. Approved nominations will be revisited annually and may be renewed for an additional three-year period.

When are honorary degrees awarded?

The University may award honorary degrees at either of its bi-annual graduation ceremonies. The award of honorary degrees may not necessarily involve a commencement address. A citation will be read by an appropriate university representative, and the recipient may be asked to make a three-minute response.

Characteristics of a Strong Nomination

All nominations shall be seriously considered if accompanied by sufficient and appropriate supporting data.

Successful nominations thoroughly demonstrate how nominees meet the criteria for selection and robustly outline the nominees’ achievements and contributions.

Nominations should include as much biographical and other supporting information as possible, but HSU requires that the nomination process remain confidential and that nominees should not know they are being considered. Therefore, nominees may not be contacted prior to final approval by the Board of Trustees.

The identity of nominators shall not normally be conveyed to the members of the Honorifics Committee.

Submitting a Nomination

Nominations should be submitted through the online Honorary Degree Nomination Form (link below) and should include the following:

1.  Summary Statement. This document can be uploaded via the Form and should not exceed two typed pages (12pt font).

• The Summary Statement should review the nominee’s career and achievements and explain why their appropriateness for an honorary degree.
• The Statement should clearly present the profound impact that the nominee has made with specific regard for how the nominees meets two of the three required criteria:
  • Professional Accomplishment (detailed above)
  • Commitment to Serve (detailed above)
  • Commitment to Hardin-Simmons University (detailed above)
• In crafting the Summary Statement, these questions should be considered
  • What is the specific content of the nominee’s contribution?
  • What is original about that contribution?
  • Of all possible contributors to the field of endeavor, why is this nominee of exceptional merit?
  • How has the nominee’s Christian witness – faith – influence been visible?

2. Citation Summary Draft – one sentence summarizing why the nominee was selected, should the degree be conferred.

• Example: “For her outstanding contributions towards ending world hunger and bringing peace to war-torn parts of the world, HSU Trustees bestow their highest award on Jane Doe.”

3. Candidate’s Curriculum Vitae or similar document list publications or equivalent measure of achievement.

 

Honorary Degree Nomination Form

To ask a question about honorary degrees, please contact us at (325) 670-1377 or honorarydegrees@hsutx.edu.

Who reviews the Nominations?

The Hardin-Simmons University Honorifics Committee is responsible for reviewing all honorary degree nominations. This committee will consist of four Trustees appointed by the Chairman of the Board and three faculty members appointed by the President of the University. The President of the University and the Chairman of the Board will be ex-officio, non-voting members of the committee.

What is the Timing?

The Committee will meet as appropriate during the Board of Trustees’ regular sessions (and/or at any time during the year). The Committee works 12-16 months in advance of the specific Commencement for which it is making its recommendations.

1. Nominations received throughout any given academic year are reviewed, vetted and ranked by the Honorifics Committee.
2. The top candidates are forwarded to the Board of Trustees for consideration at the next Session business meeting.
3. Those so affirmed are presented by the President at a Faculty Meeting. The ranked nominations will be considered for endorsement.
4. The affirmation or lack of affirmation results from the Faculty will be returned to the Committee by the University President.
   1. Successful candidates will be presented for final approval by the Committee to the Trustees during the Board’s next Session business meeting. In all cases, the decision of the Board of Trustees will be binding.
   2. Candidates not endorsed by the faculty will be sent back to the Committee with information regarding the decision, for further review and consideration. After such review and consideration, the un-endorsed candidates may or may not be presented by the Committee, at its discretion, to the Board for final approval.
5. Official notification of the University’s wish to confer an honorary degree upon an individual is made by the President on behalf of the Honorifics Committee, Board of Trustees, and HSU Faculty. The President will schedule the awarding of the degree at a regular commencement mutually agreeable to the President and the recipient.

(refer to provided usage of honorary degree directives)

DISCIPLINE	CRITERIA
Honorary Doctor of XXX | D.XX. h.c.	HSU’s Registrar may adjust the degree format to match current protocols
Divinity	Clergy, scholars in the areas of religious studies
Engineering and Technology	Engineers/applied scientists/technologists who have achieved high distinction by reason of accomplishing technological innovation, and/or producing transformative applied or basic research while making science useful; and/or exercising exceptional and visionary administrative or institutional leadership in engineering/applied science/technology
Arts	Visual Arts: artists with careers in painting, sculpture, drama, architecture, photography, dance, graphic arts, design Music Arts: performers, conductors, composers | on rare occasions administrators in these areas may be included
Humane Letters	Fields related to or of Business | Fields related to or of Education | Persons who have made contributions to society and do not fit other categories
Humanities	Scholars in the social sciences or humanities; administrators in related fields
Laws	Jurists, legal scholars, diplomats, public statesmen
Letters	Writers (fiction, poetry, drama), editors, journalists
Science	Scholars in science fields including medicine; health administrators; scholars in biomedical sciences; practitioners of health sciences, natural sciences, formal sciences, applied sciences

If Nominations received and reviewed throughout the 2028-2029 academic year.

Provided to every honoree upon conference of an honorary degree from Hardin-Simmons University

An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases honoris causa (“for the sake of the honor”) or ad honorem (“to the honor”).

The Hardin-Simmons University policy follows convention in that recipients of honorary doctorates are asked to not use the title “Dr.” in general correspondence, although in formal correspondence from HSU it is normal to address the recipient by the title.

Further, it should always made clear that the degree is honorary by adding “honorary” or “honoris causa” or “h.c.” in parentheses after the degree title or by preceding the degree letters with “Hon.” as in “Hon. DHL.”

Hardin-Simmons requests that such degrees are listed in one’s curriculum vitae (CV) as an award and not in the education section.