TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
All Members of the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
Robert Summerby-Murray, Dean of Arts & Social Sciences
September 18, 2014
Call for Honorary Degree Nominations for Convocations – Fall 2015 and Spring 2016
Further to Senate’s memo of July 17, 2014, the University is now welcoming Honorary Degree nominations for Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 convocations.
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) Honorary Degrees Committee was established in May
2010. This committee facilitates the honorary degree nomination process by providing guidance to nominators and carrying nominations forward to the Senate Honorary Degrees Committee. The FASS committee is composed of four elected members, one each from languages, humanities, performing arts and the social sciences. To be clear, the role of this committee is not to select candidates but rather to communicate the importance of this award to the Faculty and ensure the completeness of applications that go forward to the Senate committee. Individual nominations direct to the Senate
Committee are also possible but you are strongly encouraged to make use of the FASS committee for guidance.
This year’s committee:
Prof. Philippe Djokic, Music/Fountain School of Performing Arts
Dr. Chike Jeffers, Philosophy
Dr. Vincent Masse, French
Dr. Judith Thompson, English
The bestowing of honorary degrees is an important feature of Convocation at Dalhousie University. In addition to celebrating the achievements of the recipient, these awards foster a sense of pride for graduates and add to the distinctiveness of the ceremony.
The Honorary Degree is intended to:

Recognize individuals, who by their example of extraordinary achievements and/or service to society, provide inspiration and models of leadership and integrity to Dalhousie’s student body;

Honour significant patterns of achievement at, or contributions to, Dalhousie University.
Given the diversity of our faculty and programming, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is in a unique position to broaden the conventional view of successful achievement and/or service. I challenge you to think outside the box when choosing your nominee(s).
Nominations are kept confidential by the University. To assure the confidentiality of the process, nominators should keep the nomination confidential from the nominee. Nominees chosen through the
Senate Committee process will be contacted directly by the President.
Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Bldg. – 6135 University Avenue – Halifax, NS B3H 4P9 Canada
Tel: 902-494-1440 – Fax: 902-494-1957 – Email: FASS@Dal.Ca

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Honorary Degrees are normally not awarded to current faculty or staff, or members of the Board of
Governors, but the Senate Committee may consider an individual with a post-retirement, non-continuing, part-time appointment, the nature of which, in the judgment of the Committee, does not involve that individual in the day-to-day administration of the University. Honorary Degrees are not awarded to current holders of elected national or provincial political office, and are not awarded in absentia or posthumously.
Instructions to Nominators
1. Complete the attached Nomination Form for Honorary Degree Candidate in full. Additional forms are available at http://www.dal.ca/fass or by calling the Dean’s Office at 494.6288.
2. Attach: i) a curriculum vitae or career summary of the nominee (e.g., an excerpt from Who’s Who ); ii) a personal statement of support for the nominee; iii) a short summary of the nomination.
3. Indicate in the personal statement whether there has been consultation concerning the nomination with any member of the Dalhousie University community (such as faculty, staff, or students).
4. Indicate if additional letters of support are forthcoming.
Completed Nomination Forms will be accepted by the FASS committee up to Friday, November 21 to:
Attn: FASS Honorary Degrees Committee
Dean’s Office
Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Bldg. – 6135 University Avenue – Halifax, NS B3H 4P9 Canada
Tel: 902-494-1440 – Fax: 902-494-1957 – Email: FASS@Dal.Ca