Email This PageHonorary Degree Nominations
Do you know a classmate who should be considered for an honorary degree? The Honorary Degree Committee encourages you to submit nominations, c/o Maurice Eldridge ’61, Vice President’s Office, Swarthmore College, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore PA 19081-1390, or by e-mail to meldrid1@swarthmore.edu. Please enclose complete background information, including your own reasons for nominating the individual, and submit by noon on Monday, Oct. 6. Please note that all nominations will be kept confidential, and it is not good practice to inform the nominee. The committee will forward its recommendations to the faculty for approval in mid-November.
Criteria used by the Honorary Degree Committee include: distinction, leadership, or originality in a significant field of human endeavor; someone in the ascent or at the peak of distinction, with preference to the less honored over those with multiple degrees; ability to serve as a role model for graduating seniors, as Commencement speaker, on a major occasion in their lives; preference for (but not required) individuals who have an existing affiliation with or some connection to the College community. The Committee seeks to balance choices over the years from a variety of categories such as careers, gender, academic discipline, race, ethnicity, and public service.
