University accepting nominations for honorary doctoral degrees
Nominations for honorary doctoral degrees to be awarded by Mississippi State at the spring commencement ceremony are being accepted until Jan. 9, 2017. Nominations, including supporting materials, should be sent to the Honorary Degree Committee in care of the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President.
The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning authorized state universities to begin awarding the degrees in 1999 and generally allows each institution to give up to two each year. Mississippi State has awarded 27 honorary degrees since then.
Under IHL guidelines, persons eligible for the doctor of laws, doctor of science, doctor of humane letters, doctor of creative and performing arts, or doctor of public service must have demonstrated nationally recognized sustained achievement in scholarship, public service, creative and performing arts, or professional activity. Faculty, staff, and administrators of the university and elected or appointed public officials are ineligible for an honorary degree until one year after leaving their position. Candidates for public office also are ineligible.
Those who are eligible to submit nominations are MSU faculty, staff, students and alumni. All information that nominators wish to present to the Honorary Degree Committee should be provided along with the nomination by the Jan. 9 deadline.
The Honorary Degree Committee will evaluate nominations, develop additional information about nominees, and verify information submitted. The committee will recommend to President Mark E. Keenum candidates for degrees to be presented at May 2017 commencement ceremonies. The state College Board must approve honorary degrees at least two months prior to their announcement. Names of nominees will be kept confidential until they are approved.
