Trinity College Honorands 2015

>December 2, 2014

Dear Members of the Trinity Community,

An honorary degree is one of higher education’s most significant accolades. Trinity College awards honorary degrees, Honoris Causa, to distinguished individuals who over the course of their lives have made enduring contributions to society and the world through education, public or humanitarian service, arts and culture, business, medicine, philanthropy, the media, or other endeavors. Honorary degree recipients should have demonstrated commitment to the humane and educational values that exemplify the mission of Trinity College.

For Commencement 2015, we invite all members of the Trinity community to forward nominations to the Honorands Degree Committee (HDC). The HDC will be composed of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees Academic Affairs Committee, the President, the Dean of the Faculty, the Secretary of the College, and the Chief of Staff to the President. The HDC will review and discuss nominations and the President will submit nominees to the Board of Trustees for approval. Nominations for Commencement 2015 may be submitted until 5:00 p.m. on December 31, 2014. Nominations submitted after December 31 and those not selected this year will remain under consideration for Commencements 2016 and 2017.

Eligibility for Nominations

The President of the College, trustees, faculty members (individually or jointly), and members of the College community may nominate candidates to receive honorary degrees, though a nomination to the committee does not guarantee selection or approval.

Honorary degree nominations for sitting faculty, trustees, or staff will not be considered. No honorary degree shall be conferred unless the recipient is present to accept it. All nominations will be held in the strictest confidentiality.

Commencement Speakers

Commencement speakers are selected by the President. It is College practice that individuals delivering the Commencement address also receive honorary degrees; therefore, nominations for Commencement speakers follow the honorary degree nomination process. On occasion, someone not being conferred an honorary degree may serve as speaker.

Please use the attached form to nominate an honorary degree candidate.  Nominations and questions may be submitted to Jason Rojas in the Office of the President at [email protected] or (860)297-4166.

Sincerely,

Joanne Berger-Sweeney
President and Trinity College
Professor of Neuroscience