HONORARY DEGREES AND COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER	No. 2-9	Rev. 9-9-81
		Date 4-19-78

I. REFERENCE

PPM 1-2, Board of Trustees, Role of

II. POLICY

A. The University shall award Honorary Degrees to selected individuals whose accomplishments qualify them for such recognition.

B. Beginning with the graduating exercises of June, 1965, such awards have been and will be made annually at commencement exercises as suitable and qualified nominees are recommended and approved.

C. The Weber State University Honorary Degree and Commencement Speaker Committee will be composed of four faculty members including the chair of the Honorary Degree Committee of the Faculty Senate, three students, two alumni, one University Advancement representative, the provost, the president and three members of the Board of Trustees.  The Board of Trustees members will be appointed annually by the chair of the Board of Trustees.

D. The chair of the Honorary Degree and Commencement Speaker Committee will be appointed by the chair of the Board of Trustees.

III. PROCEDURE

A. Recommendations for nominations for Honorary Degrees may be made to the Weber State University Honorary Degree and Commencement Speaker Committee by (1) members of the Board of Trustees, (2) the president of Weber State University, (3) members of Weber State University faculty and staff, (4) members of the community and (5) other interested parties.

B. The Weber State University Honorary Degree and Commencement Speaker Committee shall screen nominees, approve ten candidates and submit them to the president during the month of November.  University Advancement will secure resumes and other pertinent information on each candidate.  This information will be returned to the Committee.  The Committee will then review and select at least five finalists whose names will be forwarded to the president, together with resumes.  The president will submit the recommendations to the Board of Trustees at their regular meeting in December.

C. Extreme care is to be exercised in the selection and nomination of candidates for Honorary Degrees. Such degrees are to be awarded only for a high plane of accomplishments. All persons suggested or recommended should be protected from publicity which might provide embarrassment to all parties concerned.

D. The names of all nominees and recommendations for nominees shall be kept secret until nominees are accepted by the Board of Trustees.

E. All voting by the Weber State University Honorary Degrees and Commencement Speaker Committee and the Board of Trustees shall be by secret ballot.

F. Two-thirds of the Board of Trustees must be present to vote on Honorary Degree recipients.