BY-LAWS:
Kutztown University
Honorary Doctorate Committee
Kutztown University is proud to grant honorary degrees to individuals who have made
outstanding contributions to the welfare and improvement of their community, region, Kutztown
University, the state of Pennsylvania, the United States, or to humanity at large. Honorary
Degrees are conferred to recognize individual creativity, distinguished service, significant
scholarship, and other individual accomplishments in the fields of public service, the sciences,
the humanities, the arts, education, business, philanthropy, and social services. Recipients of
Honorary degrees must exemplify the integrity, character, and achievement that epitomize the
mission and purpose of Kutztown University.
Mission Statement
The Honorary Degree Committee works to recognize the contributions of individuals that have
distinguished themselves through their service and work as inspiration to the spring graduating
class of Kutztown University.
Restrictions on Conferring Honorary Degrees
1. An Honorary Degree shall not be granted to current members of the faculty, administration,
staff, Council of Trustees, or any appointed or paid member of the State System of Higher
Education and the Board of Governors.
2. Service or benefaction to the University alone does not constitute justification for the
awarding of an honorary degree.
3. Individuals currently serving the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in elected office shall
generally not be granted honorary degrees unless that public service is long, distinguished, and
worthy of such recognition.
4. Self-nominations will not be considered.
5. Honorary degrees should not be awarded in absentia; in the event a nominated individual can
not appear at the scheduled graduation, the conferral can be postponed to the next appropriate
graduation date.
6. A posthumous degree may only be awarded in the event that a recipient dies following the
notification of selection, but prior to the ceremony.
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Number of Degrees Awarded and Time of their Conference
1. A maximum of two Honorary degrees may be conferred each year.
2. It is preferred to award Honorary degrees during spring commencement.
Honorary Degree Committee
1. The Honorary Doctorate Committee seeks to enhance the standing and distinction of
Kutztown University by seeking, editing, and discussing Honorary Doctorate nominations and
choosing excellent Honorary Doctorate candidates to recommend for approval.
2. The Honorary Doctorate Committee shall consist of nine members:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Student Government Board Representative (Appointed)
APSCUF Representative (Appointed)
Vice-President for University Advancement (Permanent)
Provost/Vice-President for Academic Affairs (Permanent)
Five faculty members elected by Committee of Committees (Appointed)
3. The term of each nominated committee member shall be two years with no prejudice against
reappointment.
4. The Committee will determine its own meeting schedule and agenda.
5. The presence of five members at a meeting constitutes a quorum.
5. All nominations and the deliberation process shall be conducted with confidentiality.
The Honorary Doctorate Committee Procedures to Procure Nominations
1. The Honorary Doctorate Committee shall place an announcement in the Daily Brief by
October 1 and again by the first week of November explaining that Honorary Degree
Nomination forms and descriptions of selection criteria are available by contacting the
Committee Chair.
2. An announcement memo will be sent to Deans to be distributed to Chairs calling for honorary
degree nominations.
3. Members of the Honorary Doctorate Committee may submit nominations or write
nominations utilizing materials obtained from the campus community.
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4. Nominations from outside the campus community generally come through the President’s
office and are forwarded to the Chair of the Committee.
Honorary Degree Selection Process
1. Nominations will be accepted from any member of the University community.
2. Nominations shall be sent to the Chair of the Honorary Doctorate Committee by December
15. Under extraordinary circumstances, the Committee Chair may waive the deadlines.
3. The Committee shall review and evaluate candidates in relationship to the approved
guidelines.
4. The proposed name(s) shall be recommended by the Honorary Doctorate Committee to the
Senate Executive Committee no later than their March meeting. The name(s), if approved,
will be forwarded by the Senate Executive Committee to the University President and
announced to the Senate.
5. The President shall submit names of recommended candidates to the Council of Trustees for
Approval no later than their March meeting and if approved the names(s) are submitted to the
Chancellor.
6. The Chancellor of PASSHE shall be notified of the identity, qualifications, and degree to be
awarded at least 30 days prior to the actual awarding of the degree, as required by PASSHE
policy.
Honorary Degree Types
Honorary degrees are limited to degrees not given as earned degrees by any institution of postsecondary education authorized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to grant such degrees
and may include, but are not limited to, the following:
L.H.D.
Doctor of Humane Letter
L.L.D.
Doctor of Laws
Litt.D.
Doctor of Letters
Ped.D.
Doctor of Pedagogy
D.P.S.
Doctor of Public Service
Sc.D.
Doctor of Science
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