The President’s Office has issued its annual request for Commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient nominations for the Class of 2017 Commencement, and future Commencement exercises.
The conferral of honorary degrees is a long-standing academic tradition that not only recognizes individuals of singular achievement but also brings honor and recognition to the Institute. “I urge you to give some thought to the nomination of individuals who deserve to be honored for their accomplishments and who would honor Rensselaer by their participation in Commencement,” said President Shirley Ann Jackson in a campus memo.
The five categories of honorary degrees at Rensselaer are: Engineering, Science, Arts, Humane Letters, and Laws. A candidate for an honorary degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute should have made an outstanding contribution to society, and should have made a significant contribution to his or her professional field.
The five categories of honorary degrees at Rensselaer are: Engineering, Science, Arts, Humane Letters, and Laws. A candidate for an honorary degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute should have made an outstanding contribution to society, and should have made a significant contribution to his or her professional field. Special attention will be given to candidates who have achieved outstanding success in fields that are related to the educational objectives of the Institute. Appropriate candidates should also embody the basic ideals of personal integrity and good citizenship that the Institute seeks to foster. Candidates for Commencement speaker need to have strong oratorical skills.
The nomination form is available on Rensselaer’s website. The Faculty Honors Committee and the President’s Committee on Honors will evaluate all nominations in developing a list of nominees to be submitted to the Board of Trustees.
Send nominations to Paula Realbuto, Office of the President, Troy Building, 3rd Floor. Nominations received by September 15, 2016, will be considered for the 2017 Commencement ceremony.