E. Honorary Degrees and Awards

E. Honorary Degrees and Awards

1.   The Board of Trustees delegated to each USNH President the authority to award and confer honorary degrees and Granite State Awards at their respective institution, BOT II.E.1. In the same policy the Board of Trustees directed the Administrative Board to adopt a policy governing the (a) granting of honorary degrees and awards, (b) appropriate coordination among the institutions, and (c) periodic reporting to the Board of Trustees.

2.   The Presidents shall award honorary degrees according to the following criteria:

2.1   Outstanding citizens of the state who bring honor, prestige, and recognition to the state.

2.2   Outstanding alumni of the University and Colleges, whether residing in the state, out of the state, or out of the country.

2.3   Outstanding living benefactors of the University and/or the Colleges, whether their contributions are in kind, service or otherwise. Consideration should be given to former members of the University and College family--trustees, faculty, and staff--in considering potential degree recipients in this category.

2.4   Individuals of national and/or international importance whose contributions have enhanced society as a whole or who have otherwise brought significant enrichment or benefit to particular groups.

2.5   Each Governor of the State of New Hampshire shall be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at some appropriate occasion during his or her first term in office.

3.   The Presidents shall make Granite State Awards to recognize leaders of business, industry, agriculture, trade associations, and labor organizations, teachers in high or preparatory schools, professional persons, and citizens whose achievements in their own particular spheres have been outstanding for contributions they have made to New Hampshire (i.e., persons of prominence in their own communities who do not easily fit the categories of those eligible for honorary degrees, but who merit commendation). Granite State Awards are also conferred upon agencies, corporations, and foundations when these have provided extraordinary services, or have otherwise proved of great benefit to the state.

4.   If there is substantial evidence of significant distinct additional merit or service, recipients of an Honorary Degree or a Granite State Award may be eligible for a second nomination. (The Secretary of the University System is responsible for maintaining an historical record of all conferrals of degrees and awards, copies of which are made available to the President's Office of each campus.)

5.   Members of the Board of Trustees and members of the faculty and staff of the University System institutions should not, during their term of service or employment, be eligible for conferral of honorary degrees, Granite State Awards, or the naming of facilities in their honor. Barring unusual and compelling circumstances, a reasonable interim (generally a period of not less than two years) should be allowed between retirement from service or employment and nomination of such individuals for this type of recognition.

6.   No honorary degree or award shall be approved or conferred for partisan political purposes and the Board shall diligently endeavor to avoid even the appearance of such purpose.

7.   Prior to conferring an honorary degree or Granite State Award, each President shall inform the other members of the Administrative Board of his or her intentions. The Chancellor shall maintain an inventory of all recipients of honorary degrees and Granite State Awards, including the date of the degree or award and the conferring institution.

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