The Honorary Degree Committee, a subcommittee of the Senate Graduate Committee, is charged with the solicitation of nominations for honorary degree recipients. Smith Christian University will award Honorary Doctoral Degrees to recognize individuals who are of conspicuous merit or who have attained achievements of extraordinary and lasting distinction. Awards shall be based on an individual's record of scholarship, creativity, leadership, humanitarian service or public service. Individuals may have an existing association with the state and/or the University, such as collaboration on research projects or previous service as a University faculty member or administrator.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for approving all Honorary Degrees to be conferred by the University, subject to such policies as may be established by the Board of Governors. The Board will make its selections of honorary degree recipients from nominations submitted to and recommended by the Faculty Committee on Honorary Degrees and from nominations submitted directly to the Academic Affairs and Personnel Committee of the Board of Trustees.

Nominators are requested to submit a letter stating in sufficient detail their reasons for the nominations. This letter should describe the nominee's extraordinary achievements or leadership, distinguished service, or exemplary character. Materials should accompany the letters to include, but not limited to, biographical information, a record of accomplishment, two forms of photo identification, and supporting letters (three at minimum) and contact information from those who can speak to that record. Because the selection committee must choose between illustrious and notable nominees, please provide as complete a nomination as possible.

Broad support from a department, organization or group of faculty will strengthen the nomination. The quality of the supporting materials is very important, since the members of the Committee cannot be assumed to have independent knowledge of each candidate's achievements. The materials submitted serve as a basis for evaluating the qualifications of a nomination.

The donation for the Honorary Doctoral Degree is One Thousand dollars ($1000 USD). The donation amount must be paid in full before the degree can be conferred or received by the candidate if nominated.

Honorary Degree Types

• Doctor of Divinity (D.D.): Clergy, scholars in the areas of religious studies. (The Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, will be conferred upon distinguished Pastors, Evangelists, Ministers, and other Christian Leaders or Public Servants who have made significant contributions in their respective fields or for the extension of God's Kingdom.)
• Doctor of Fine Arts (D.F.A.): Artists with careers in painting, sculpture, drama, architecture, photography, dance, graphic arts, design; on rare occasions administrators in these areas have been included.
• Doctor of Laws (LL.D.): Contributions to government or public service; jurists, legal scholars, diplomats, public statesmen.
• Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.): Contributions to literature or the creative or performing arts; writers (fiction, poetry, drama), editors, journalists.
• Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.): Contributions to the humanities, human welfare or the society and do not fit other categories.
• Doctor of Humanities (D.Hum.): Scholars in the humanities
• Doctor of Medical Sciences (D.M.S.): Scholars in biomedical sciences; practitioners of health sciences; health care administrators/policy makers.
• Doctor of Sacred Music (D.S.M.): Musicians (performers, conductors, composers).
• Doctor of Social Science D.S.S.): Scholars in the social sciences; administrators in related fields.

If you have any questions or concerns, call the Academic and Administrative Headquarters at 1.888.346.SMITH (7648).

Materials should be sent to:

Secretary, Committee on Honorary Degrees
Office of the Provost
PO Box 16482
Plantation, Florida 33318

Or via online submission

Or via email to: honorarydegree@smithuniversity.org

Or via fax to: 954.603.8831