Honorary Degrees
The awarding of honorary degrees is part of the Senate’s mandate; they represent yet another way the Senate can forge a link between the University and community. Honorary degrees may be conferred upon Albertans who have made outstanding contributions to life and learning.
Any member of the public may nominate an individual for an honorary degree from the University of Alberta. To be considered worthy of the University’s highest honour, the individual’s extraordinary intellectual or artistic achievements or service to society must exemplify a high standard of excellence. The University confers these degrees honoris causa, “for the sake of honour”. There are three types of honorary degrees: Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters, and Doctor of Science. Recipients of the University of Alberta’s honorary degrees must be living; the University does not grant posthumous honorary degrees. The Senate’s Honorary Degrees Committee is composed of the President and representatives from the academic community, University support staff, Alumni Association, Students’ Union, Graduate Students’ Association, and the community.
Please refer to the section on achievements for lists of honorary degree recipients; there is a list spanning each decade in the University's hundred-year history.