About

Honorary degrees recognize and celebrate those who have personified excellence and achieved greatness in a way that merits this honour—those who have made a lasting and positive impact on their communities and the world, those who have pushed the boundaries of knowledge, those who have dedicated themselves to exceptional public service, and those who have inspired greatness in others.

Honorary degrees are a testament to incredible achievements and a shared commitment to excellence.

Nominate Someone for an Honorary Degree

Anyone can nominate a candidate for an honorary degree at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) – students, staff, faculty, alumni, and the public. The nomination must be signed by one nominator and include at least three letters of support. Nominators should explain their knowledge of the nominee’s achievements and must not be family members.

Nominations for honorary degrees are accepted throughout the year and are considered by the Honorary Degrees Committee as needed. To be initially considered before the next committee meeting, submit a nomination by September 1, 2025. 

Do you know someone who is an exceptional candidate for an honorary degree? Nominate them today!

Eligibility for Nomination

Generally, anyone can be nominated, though many recipients have ties to USask.

  • The following are typically ineligible:
    • Current USask Board of Governors or Senate members
    • Current or recent USask faculty or staff
    • Current USask students
    • Current elected officials in Canada or other countries
    • Religious leaders (unless recognized for non-religious contributions)
  • Honorary degrees are not awarded posthumously and rarely to those unable to attend the Convocation ceremony in person.

Assessment Criteria

  • Excellence in scholarship, scientific inquiry, or artistic endeavors
  • Extraordinary public service
  • Significant contributions benefiting the university
  • Athletic prowess
  • Inspirational presence at Convocation
  • Balance across disciplines and contributions
  • Links to USask and Saskatchewan
  • Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion

The selection process is confidential, with deliberations held in closed sessions.

Submitting Nominations

  • Multiple nominations by one person are allowed.
  • Joint nominations (e.g., couples or research partners) can be submitted as one package.
  • Submit nominations to governance.office@usask.ca. Confirmation will be sent upon receipt.
    • If something is missing, the Governance Office will be in touch as only completed nominations will move forward.
    • If not received within a few days, resend the nomination to ensure it has been received.
  • After a decision has been made regarding your nomination and information is ready to be shared, someone will be in touch regarding the outcome. Please note that this can take several months or – in exceptional circumstances – can even take years.

Past Recipients

Contact

For more information, contact the

Loading...