The Committee on Honorary Degrees invites you to nominate individuals to be considered for the award of an honorary degree from UNCG. Those selected will be granted the appropriate degree at a future commencement ceremony. The purpose for awarding honorary degrees includes the following:

• To recognize individuals who demonstrate extraordinary achievement over their entire scholarly or artistic careers or who have performed distinguished public service in their lifetime;
• 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 qualities and values espoused by 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:  humanities, sciences, arts, public service, and education, to name a few. Those currently holding public office in the state and the permanent staff of our state universities are not eligible. The achievements may vary in scope from prominence on the international or professional arena to vital contributions to the University, North Carolina, and beyond. A previous connection to the University or state is not mandatory but is considered a strength.

To provide you with examples of those who have previously received honorary degrees, we invite you to review the names of awardees from past years:

• Beth Leavel, Nancy King Quaintance, Dennis Quaintance (2022)