Nominations sought for 2025-26 honorary degrees

The Honorary Degree Committee invites nominations for honorary degrees to be conferred by Oakland University in 2025-26. Honorary degrees will be awarded only to individuals of special merit, distinctions and outstanding achievement. Through this process, Oakland University reaffirms its scholarly, creative and humanitarian values, as well as its ties to the wider community.

A complete list of OU honorary degrees is available on the Provost's web section.

Honorary degrees are awarded to individuals who have been selected according to the criteria and procedures outlined below:

• Eligibility is open to all except current employees of Oakland University.
  
  
• Exemplary candidates are those with records of outstanding achievements in areas such as academe, business and government, or civic, cultural, humanitarian, or public affairs. Examples of such achievements include original and creative accomplishments within one or more academic disciplines or significant contributions to humankind's intellectual, cultural, commercial, aesthetic, social or civic betterment.
  
  
• Nomination materials should include a cover letter together with supporting documentation that might help the committee make a recommendation to the Provost and the President. Letters should include a clear statement of the nominee's outstanding achievements that justify conferral of the honorary degree. Nominations from such traditionally underrepresented groups as minorities and women are especially welcomed and encouraged. Examples of supplemental documents can be found here.
  
  
• Initial screening of the candidates for honorary degrees will be conducted by the Honorary Degree Committee. Nominators may be contacted by the committee and asked to assist in providing additional biographical material and supporting documentation. The Board of Trustees confers honorary degrees based on the work of the screening committee, and the recommendations made by the Provost and the President.

Those interested in submitting nominating materials should do so by Friday, October 10, 2025. using this form. Those with questions about the nomination process should contact Honorary Degree Committee Chair Amy Banes-Berceli at [email protected].