MEMORANDUM
To Faculty and Staff
From Debbie Storrs, Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor; and Beth Fischer, Vice Chancellor of University Advancement
Colleagues,
The Committee on Honorary Degrees invites you to identify candidates for honorary degrees to be granted at a future commencement ceremony. Honorary degrees represent UNC Greensboro’s highest recognition of outstanding and distinguished contributions to scholarship, creativity, leadership, and humanitarian or public service on a state, national, or international level and that reflect the broad mission of the university.
The purposes for awarding honorary degrees include the following:
- To recognize individuals with high qualities of personal and professional character and competence who demonstrate extraordinary achievements of lasting distinction over their scholarly or artistic careers, who have performed distinguished public service in their lifetime, or who have contributed to any field of science, social science, engineering, technology, the humanities, or to human welfare;
- To recognize excellence in the scholarly fields of degrees awarded by the University as well as those that exemplify the history and mission of the University;
- To honor those individuals whose lives and achievements are consistent with the mission and values of the University in order to provide examples of the University’s aspirations for its graduates;
- To elevate the visibility and reputation of the University by honoring those individuals who are widely known and regarded in their field or in society as a whole.
The person selected may be distinguished in any number of areas that align with the university’s mission and values. The achievements may vary in scope from prominence on the international or professional scene to vital contributions to the University, to the state of North Carolina, and beyond. Affiliation with the University or the state is not mandatory but is considered a strength.
Current employees of UNC Greensboro are ineligible, as are employees of the University of North Carolina System or any one of its constituent institutions and individuals currently holding public office in the state.
As representative examples of persons who have received Honorary Degrees, we invite you to review the names of awardees from past years: Dennis Quaintance, Nancy King Quaintance, Beth Leavel, Ben Folds (2021); Rhiannon Giddens Emmylou Harris (2019); Mansukh C. Wani, William Mangum (2017); William Black, Harold Schiffman (2016); Timothy Rice (2015); Norman Anderson (2013); Bonnie McElveen-Hunter (2012); Thomas Haggai (2011); Margaret Maron (2010); Rebecca Lloyd, Nido Qubein (2009); Fred Chappell, Tom Ross, Kay Yow (2008); Irvin Belk, Betty Ray McCain, Edwin S. Melvin (2007); Molly Broad, Henry Frye, Shirley Frye (2006); Muriel Siebert (2005); Jim Hunt (2004); Jaylee Mead (2003); Michael B. Fleming, Stanley Frank (2002); Kenneth L. Adelman, Bonnie Angelo, Jean Brooks (2001); Erskine Bowles (2000); Maud Gatewood, Eloise R. Lewis (1999); Carolyn R. Ferree, Calvin Trillin (1998); Mary Ellen Rudin, LeRoy T. Walker (1995); T. James Crawford (1994); Maya Angelou (1993).
The committee asks that you submit candidates using the Honorary Degree Candidate Nomination Form. Please keep in mind the need for confidentiality, as candidates should not be aware that they are being considered. The deadline for nominations is Friday, October 14, 2022. If you have questions about the nomination process, please contact Gladys Kammetler at grkammet@uncg.edu.
The university’s honorary degree policy and procedures may be viewed here.
