Nominations Criteria & Guidelines

Any member of the University of San Francisco community, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees and advisory board members, is eligible to submit a nomination for an honorary degree. Nominations are accepted year-round.

1. A candidate for an honorary degree must have demonstrated personal and professional qualities that are consistent with the mission and goals of the University of San Francisco. They must exhibit academic excellence, community service and high moral integrity.
2. A candidate for an honorary degree must have achieved outstanding success in their field. Such success shall be judged by the recognition that his/her peers accord to the candidate's contributions to letters, art, law, music, education, science, philosophy, theology or other fields of learning or endeavor.
3. In recognition of the University of San Francisco’s commitment to socio-economic, national, racial, ethnic, religious, gender, sexual orientation and cultural diversity, the Honorary Degree Committee is committed to awarding honorary degrees to individuals who reflect the vibrant diversity of the University community,  the broader society and the global community we serve.
4. Employees or trustees in the active service of the University of San Francisco shall ordinarily not be nominated for honorary degrees during the term of their active relationship with the University.
5. Elected officials or those running for office shall not ordinarily be nominated for Honorary Degrees.
6. Nominations are only accepted from those affiliated with the University.