Honorary Degree Policy

The purpose of this policy is to clearly delineate the requirements for nomination to receive an honorary doctorate from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and the process by which candidates shall be considered for said honor.

All members of the RISD community, including but not limited to trustees, the Museum Board of Governors, faculty, staff, students, and alumni, may nominate individuals for honorary degrees.

An honorary degree is one of higher education’s most significant accolades. RISD awards honorary degrees at the college’s annual Commencement ceremony on a selective basis to distinguished individuals who merit special recognition by meeting the criteria and eligibility requirements specified below. The President and the Board of Trustees intend for nominations to reflect the institution’s absolute commitment to diversity as expressed in myriad forms, including race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, language, culture, national origin, religious commitments, age, (dis)ability status, as well as diversity in the spectrum of thoughts and ideas.

Honorary Degree: an academic degree for which a degree-awarding institution has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, a dissertation, and the passing of comprehensive examinations. It is also known by the Latin phrases honoris causa ("for the sake of the honour") or ad honorem ("to the honour"). The degree is typically a doctorate and may be awarded to someone who has no prior connection with the awarding academic institution.

The Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree is granted by RISD to individuals who:

• have made outstanding contributions to and/or are leaders in the fields of visual art and design
• have outstanding contributions in scholarly advancement in the fields of visual art and design
• have made other significant, meritorious achievements that reflect the core values and standards of the institution.

An association or connection with the Rhode Island School of Design is welcome but in no way necessary for this recognition.

Current faculty, staff, and students are not eligible to receive an honorary degree. Past honorary degree recipients are not eligible to receive additional honorary degrees. Self-nominations will not be accepted. Except under special circumstances when the President, in consultation with the Chair of the Board of Trustees, determines otherwise, current members of the Board of Trustees are not eligible to receive an honorary degree.

Honorary Degree Committee

The Honorary Degree Committee will be comprised of a minimum of the following:

• Lead commencement planner (co-chair)
• Dean, department head, or graduate program director (co-chair)
• student representative
• faculty representative
• trustee representative (can be an emeritus trustee)
• President’s Office representative managing the honorary degree process (administrative support).

Confidentiality

In accordance with standard practice at other institutions of higher learning, care is taken to ensure strict confidentiality at all stages of the honorary degree process. A nominee should not be informed that their name has been put forward for consideration as not all excellent candidates can be recognized, and knowledge of a failed nomination can be embarrassing and harmful. Official notification of RISD’s wish to confer an honorary degree upon an individual is made by the President on behalf of the Board of Trustees.

In keeping with confidentiality surrounding the honorary degree process, nominators will not receive any notifications regarding the status of their recommendations. Typically, confirmed honorary degree recipients will be announced publicly in the March/April before Commencement.

Submitting Nominations

Nominations are received through a campuswide call by the Office of the President. To nominate an individual, any member of the RISD community should complete the online honorary degree nomination form. The quality of the supporting materials is very important since the individuals reviewing nominations cannot be assumed to have independent knowledge of each candidate's achievements.

The Board of Trustees will be consulted at various stages throughout the calendar year in order to incorporate their expertise, guidance, recommendations, and input in the nomination process.

All nominations received within any given calendar year will be considered for honorary degrees awarded at Commencement the following academic year. For example, all nominations received in the 2024-2025 academic year will be considered for honorary degrees at Commencement 2026. Nominees will not be carried over between calendar years, but individuals may be re-nominated in subsequent calendar years. Please review the list of past honorary degree recipients before submitting a nomination.

Review of Nominees

To facilitate efficiency and ensure the highest standards of distinction and achievement for honorary degree recipients, the following process will be followed:

In early January, the Office of the President conducts a strategic internal review to vet all nominations received in the previous calendar year and offers its top recommendations and supporting rationale, along with the complete slate of nominees, to the Honorary Degree Committee.

In late January, the Honorary Degree Committee reviews, deliberates, evaluates, and selects approximately 15 candidates to recommend to the board of trustees, including recommendations for a Commencement speaker and a Graduate Hooding speaker. The Committee will prepare a succinct written report providing the rationale for each candidate it recommends. Typically, these recommendations are due to the President by early February for presentation, review, and approval at the February board meeting.

Selection of Honorary Degree Recipients

The President will consider the recommendations approved by the Board and extend invitations to selected individuals from the approved slate to receive an honorary degree at the Commencement of the following academic year.

The President, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, is the only person authorized to invite a person to receive an honorary degree. If the President determines that a different candidate or candidates should be offered the degree for strategic or other reasons of institutional benefit, or in circumstances that might compromise the Commencement event, the President, in conjunction with the Chair of the Board of Trustees, has discretion to withdraw invitations, replace them with others on the approved list, and, if deemed appropriate, extend invitations to others not on the approved list.

Speakers at Commencement + Graduate Hooding Ceremonies

Typically, both the Commencement speaker and the Graduate Hooding speaker receive honorary degrees. Individuals submitting nominations for honorary degrees are asked to specifically identify candidates who would be powerful speakers and to provide sufficient supplemental information highlighting their strengths as a speaker.

Prohibition on Fees and Honoraria

Except under special circumstances when the President, in consultation with the Chair of the Board of Trustees, determines otherwise, an honorary degree recipient shall not receive a speaker's fee or honorarium for accepting an honorary degree or delivering a Graduate Hooding or Commencement address. The Institution does, of course, cover travel, accommodations, and related expenses.

Presence at Commencement

Except under special circumstances when the President, in consultation with the Chair of the Board of Trustees, determines otherwise, an honorary degree recipient must be present at the Commencement ceremony. Honorary degrees will not be awarded in absentia or posthumously.

Continuing Relationship with Honorary Degree Recipient

Every effort is made to deepen and strengthen the interaction between honorary degree recipients and the RISD community. When possible, recipients are invited to participate in other activities around Commencement that allow broader engagement with students and faculty. Recipients are also often invited to return to campus on other occasions and encouraged to develop a fruitful ongoing relationship with the Institution.

Rescinding of Honorary Degree

Rhode Island School of Design is committed to upholding to the College’s mission and values. To protect RISD’s integrity, autonomy, and academic freedoms, the President, in consultation with the Chair of the Board of Trustees, reserves the right to rescind the honorary degree of any individual who may compromise these fundamental institutional principles or otherwise impede RISD’s interests.

Process Timeline

• October -- Call to entire RISD community for nominations for the following year
• November -- Second and final reminder call to entire RISD community for nominations
• Early January -- Strategic internal review of all nominations received during prior calendar year for the following year’s Commencement
• Late January-- Honorary Degree Committee convenes to conduct its review
• Early February-- Honorary Degree Committee submits recommendations to the President
• Late February -- Recommendations presented to the Board of Trustees for approval
• March -- Offer letters for following year’s Commencement by President to individuals selected from approved slate of recommendations
• March/April -- Public notified of honorary degree recipients for current year’s Commencement

This policy was approved as of: 4/15/2019

This policy was last reviewed/modified on: 11/6/2024

Next scheduled review: 4/15/2026

Issuing Office

Office of the President

Responsible Officer

RISD President

Individuals/offices required for review and changes

Chair of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees