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Selection Process

All recipients of Honorary Degrees should lend distinction to Northwestern University. The following criteria are considered when assessing honorary degree nominees. Honorary degrees at Northwestern are awarded to those who fulfill some or all of the following characteristics:

  • Distinction in the fields of teaching, learning, research, writing, and performance in the arts; or have achieved distinction through their special contributions to society at large or more specifically to Northwestern University and our community.
  • Achievements are of national or international significance. This should be the overriding criterion for all recipients, except those who are being honored for exceptional service to our community. 
  • Have accomplished cutting edge discoveries in their field at the time of selection. Special efforts should be made to identify these candidates.
  • Have graduated from Northwestern. It behooves the University to recognize the distinction of its own graduates.
  • Are representative of our community. 

Required Materials

Each spring the Committee on Honorary Degrees seeks nominations for the following year. Any person may submit a nomination on behalf of another individual. Nominations should include:

  1. The completed online nomination form. Only completed forms will be accepted for review. 
  2. If relevant, a curriculum vitae or brief biography statement.

The nomination materials should articulate how the individual will bring greater distinction to Northwestern University, per the nomination criteria detailed above. Broad support from a department or group of faculty will strengthen the nomination. The quality of the supporting materials is very important, since the members of the Committee cannot be assumed to have independent knowledge of each candidate's achievements. The materials submitted serve as a basis for evaluating the qualifications of a nomination.

Individuals who are not eligible to receive an honorary degree include:

  1. Self-nominations
  2. Current or retired faculty and staff 
  3. Current students
  4. Northwestern University administrators or Board of Trustees members, except in the case of a retiring president or chair of the Board 

 

The deadline to submit nominations for consideration is March 1, 2026. If you have any questions, contact honorarydegree@northwestern.edu.

Review and Approval of Nominations

Pursuant to the University Statutes, recommendations of the Committee on Honorary Degrees are reviewed and voted on by the Faculty Senate in late spring. The Senate then transmits its recommendations to the Board of Trustees for final approval.

The final decision of the Honorary Degrees recipients to invite for the Commencement ceremony will be made by the President from the slate duly selected by the Faculty Senate and Board of Trustees. Any additional selections who are not invited during the year they were nominated may carry forward to the following year(s) for further consideration. 

Honorary Degrees are conferred at Commencement ceremonies. Recipients must be present in order to receive the award.