Honorary Degrees

Members of the Howard University community, (faculty, staff, students, alumni, and trustees), are invited to nominate potential candidates for the University’s highest honor, the honorary degree, to the HOWARD UNIVERSITY HONORARY DEGREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

The HOWARD UNIVERSITY HONORARY DEGREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE receives, reviews, and evaluates all nominations and selects no more than ten to be recommended to the President of the University for consideration. Selection is based on how closely the nominee comports with the following:

• Individuals who have distinguished themselves through extraordinary achievements in scholarship, the professions, or other creative activities, whether or not they are widely known by the general public.
• Alumni and other individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the welfare and development of Howard University or the communities of which they are a part.
• Individuals who have performed exceptional acts of philanthropy to Howard University on a national or global level.
• Individuals who are widely known and highly regarded for achievements in their respective fields of endeavor.

The University President considers the recommendations of the Honorary Degree Advisory Committee and may select candidates from these recommendations as well as other individuals of outstanding distinction and accomplishment. The President of the University recommends nominees to the Howard University Board of Trustees for approval. Upon approval, nominees are notified. The nominee or the nominee's representative, (in the case of a posthumous award), must be available to attend the convocation ceremony to receive the honor in person.

Composition of the Honorary Degree Advisory Committee

• Dean of the Graduate School, Chair
• Chair, Faculty Senate
• President, Howard University Staff Organization (HUSO)
• President, Howard University Student Association (HUSA)
• Seven (7) Faculty Representatives (No school or college shall have more than two representatives.)
• Provost and Chief Academic Officer
• Vice President for University Communications
• Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
• Secretary of the Board of Trustees, (serves as ex-officio)
   

Timeline

Nominations may be submitted at any time using the HONORARY DEGREE NOMINATIONS SUBMISSION FORM. The nomination deadline for candidates to be considered for the 2025 Commencement Exercises is October 30, 2024. In subsequent years, the deadline for Spring Commencement Exercises will be October 15th of each year. The deadline for consideration for the Fall Opening Convocation is February 15th of each year.

The Honorary Degree Advisory Committee will typically meet once in the Fall and once in the Spring to consider nominations and forward recommendations to the President of the University.

Honorary degrees may be awarded annually at the Commencement Convocation in May, Opening Convocation in September, or special convocations, as approved by the Howard University Board of Trustees.