University of Vermont Logo

Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Nominations
for the University of Vermont's
206th Commencement Proceedings

Beginning in March 2009, the Honorary Degree Work Group started the work of identifying those candidates who would best meet the following criteria. The Work Group will place those recommendations before the Board of Trustees at the October 2009 meeting. The Board’s practice is not to approve specific nominations, but to adopt a Resolution authorizing the President to award honorary degrees in consultation with the Work Group. It is the University’s President’s authority to select the commencement speaker, in consultation with the Work Group, who may also receive an honorary degree at the recommendation of the Work Group.
Criteria
In conferring an honorary degree and recommending a commencement speaker, the University of Vermont has historically recognized distinction in at least one of three general areas:

* Outstanding achievement or service at or for the benefit of the University of Vermont
 * Outstanding achievement or service in or for the benefit of the State of Vermont
 * Outstanding achievement or service in the nation or the world
Of particular interest is to identify honorary degree candidates and a commencement speaker who exemplify or reflect the University values, goals and strategic priorities.
The Work Group will also consider the following in evaluating nominees:
* Sustained and dedicated commitment to public life and service
 * Significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge
 * Significant contribution to the University’s ability to achieve its mission
If you would like to submit a nomination, please fill out the form below. Your will be asked to provide a narrative stating how the nominee fits the nomination criteria and why the nominee should be honored in this way by the University. Please include biographical information and the nominee;s current contact information. Providing detailed information about your nominee will ensure he or she is given full consideration by the Honorary Degree Work Group.
As this process will result in numerous highly qualified nominations and the Work Group will submit a list of 3 – 5 to the Board of Trustees, it is imperative that nominators keep their nominations confidential. In particular, we ask that nominees not be informed.
All nominations should be submitted by October 1, 2009.
For more information contact Leslie Logan, Chief of Protocol and Administrator of University Events, at (802) 656-4205 or by email to: academic_ceremonies@uvm.edu
Note
The University of Vermont awards only one Honorary Degree in a recipient's lifetime. Please refer to the list found at the link below to determine if your nominee was a past conferee.
Past Recipients (a new tab will open in your browser)
Please discontinue the nomination process if your nominee has already received an Honorary Degree from the University of Vermont. Thank you.

Nomination Form
An asterisk * indicates a required field
*Please indicate which category you are submitting your nominee for:



Nominator (Your) Information:
Contact Information




Address






Nominee Information:
Contact Information






Address






*Please check all that apply for your Nominee:







*Please provide a letter detailing why and how this person has acquired recognition based on the items checked above. Elaborate specifically on areas of personal and professional excellence which warrent this nominee's consideration for an Honorary Degree or as Commencement Speaker.

*Please provide supporting information for your Nominee
 Using the internet, please provide additional sources which provide supporting information for your nominee.
Please paste the link(s) below. (1 minimum)

Please list any direct connection this Nominee has to the University of Vermont or the State of Vermont:

We are interested in your feedback. Please feel free to comment on the Nomination Process:


Please click “submit” below to finish the nomination process. Thank you for submitting an on-line nomination.