Call for Nominations - Honorary Degrees 2020

Posted on Monday, April 15th, 2019

The Senate Honours and Awards Committee invites nominations for honorary degrees, to be awarded at Convocation ceremonies in 2020.

An honorary degree is the highest honour bestowed within the power of the University, and as such is a reflection of the University of Guelph’s highest aspirations, mission, and values, and in particular where those values are reflected by individuals whose extraordinary achievements work to “improve life”.

In conferring honorary degrees, the University of Guelph seeks to recognize extraordinary achievement, and to honour individuals whose accomplishments demonstrate both a transformative impact and standard of excellence such that they provide, through example, inspiration to graduates of the University and to the University community.  Individuals receiving an honorary degree become ambassadors for the University; thus, through their association and engagement should enhance the reputation of the University of Guelph.

The University of Guelph confers the following honorary degrees:

  • Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) - Awarded for significant and extraordinary contributions or service to society, the University or community as a whole; or, to a profession or discipline concerned with service to the community.

  • Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) - Awarded for significant and extraordinary contributions to academic life, knowledge or society in the areas of the humanities or the creative and performing arts

  • Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) - Awarded for significant and extraordinary contributions to academic life, knowledge or society in the areas of pure and applied science, and/or social science.

Complete details regarding the nomination process and criteria can be found in the Guidelines for the Awarding of Honorary Degrees. 

Commitment to an Inclusive Campus

In keeping with University’s guiding documents including the Strategic Framework (2016) and Inclusion Framework (2017) the Committee will strive to ensure that nominations recommended to Senate are appropriately diverse and reflective of the distinctive culture of the University of Guelph, and the communities which it serves.  Nominators are encouraged to consider diversity elements reflected in the University’s Inclusion Framework including those related to culture, circumstance, race, aboriginality, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, language, abilities, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, socioeconomic status, and place of origin.

Questions and Submission of Nominations

Questions regarding the nomination process or criteria may be directed to: 

Joanne Emeneau, Associate University Secretary (joanne.emeneau@exec.uoguelph.ca or ext. 56758)

In order to be considered for presentation at Convocation ceremonies in 2020, nominations for honorary degrees must be received by September 3, 2019.

Nominations may be submitted in confidence to the University Secretariat at univsec@uoguelph.ca (electronic submissions preferred), or to:

Senate Honours and Awards Committee
c/o University Secretariat
University Centre, 4th Floor
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1

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