A. The Concept of the Honorary Degree
Customarily institutions confer the special degree to bring honor to the individual and the institution alike. The honorary degree is the highest honor that the University confers.
The honorary degree will be conferred on individuals of special merit who have gained substantial professional recognition and whose outstanding achievements embody the goals and values of The University of Tampa.
This shall include:
- Major University friends, benefactors and outstanding alumni.
- Men and Women whose professional achievements embody the University of Tampa's mission as a comprehensive educational institution of higher learning. They shall include individuals who are recognized for their achievement in the arts, business, politics, or service to society.
- Outstanding scholars in all fields
The honorary degree should be awarded only after adequate and extensive research on the individual, leading to the conclusion that the individual possesses achievements that clearly meet criteria developed by the Honorary Degree Committee. The frequency of such recognition should set a level of distinction that is commensurate with the award of the degree.
As a general policy, honorary degrees shall not be awarded to active members of the University faculty or staff, nor awarded to retired faculty members for career distinction achieved at The University of Tampa. Likewise, the award of a special degree to an active or retired Trustee shall be an exceptional and rare occurrence.
The honorary degree is not automatically granted to a major commencement speaker.