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Honorary degrees are awarded honoris causa, “for the sake of the honour,” and recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions locally, nationally and globally, such as:
The individuals upon whom the university bestows honorary degrees should reflect both the full diversity of Canadian society and the qualities that Laurier prizes, as expressed in the university’s vision statement:
“Our commitment is to justice and sustainability now and in the future, so we strive to ignite the minds, spirits and hearts of our communities through excellence in teaching and learning, in the discovery, scholarly exploration, and application of new ideas, and in instilling the courage to engage and challenge the world in all its complexity.”
Honorary Degrees are generally not awarded to any of the following: current faculty or staff; current members of the Board of Governors or Senate; and active politicians.
The Order of Wilfrid Laurier University honours worthy recipients who have a record of exemplary and distinguished service to the university.
The award is available to any member of the university, those currently or formerly attached to the university, and to those representing the university in the community. Candidates nominated for membership in the order may include, but are not limited to, current or former faculty, staff, students, volunteers, and friends of the university.
The award consists of a diploma suitably inscribed, a pin denoting membership in the order, and a citation to be read at the convocation ceremony at which the award is presented. The recipient may also be invited to address convocation.
Fill out the nomination form. The form and process for Honorary Degrees and the Order of Wilfrid Laurier University are the same.
Wilfrid Laurier University invites members of the university community and the general public to nominate worthy individuals for Honorary Degrees or the Order of Wilfrid Laurier University.
Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis. They are submitted to the Secretariat Office and are reviewed by the Honorary Degree Committee.
Fill out the nomination form. The nomination package must include the following:
Email completed nomination package to the Secretariat Office (lauriersecretariat@wlu.ca). Incomplete nomination packages will not be considered.
All information submitted will be kept confidential. It is recommended that nominees not be advised of their nomination.
There are no deadlines. Nominations are accepted year-round. Nominations received before November 15 may be reviewed at a fall meeting of the Senate Honorary Degree Committee; nominations received before February 15 may be reviewed at a winter meeting.
You will receive confirmation that your nomination was received. Thereafter, you will not be contacted due to the confidential nature of the process.
Approved candidates are put into a pool and selected by the President to attend convocation. Candidates are first assessed by the Senate Honorary Degree Committee and receive final approval from the Senate Executive and Finance Committee.
Ten years.
No, these awards shall not be made posthumously or in absentia.
On Jan. 11, 2016, Senate approved procedures for rescinding an honorary degree.
The Senate Executive and Finance Committee, acting on the recommendation of the Honorary Degree Committee, may revoke honorary degrees or distinctions of the university and all privileges connected therewith of any holder who has been convicted of a criminal offence, or whose name has been removed for misconduct by a properly constituted legal authority from any official register of members of the profession to which the individual belongs, or whose conduct is judged by the Senate Executive and Finance Committee to constitute a significant breach of the standards of the university normally applied to the conferment of such degrees or distinctions.
The Senate Executive and Finance Committee may restore the degree, distinction or privileges previously enjoyed by an award holder on cause being shown and upon recommendation of the Honorary Degree Committee.
Contact
Karen Jack
E: kjack@wlu.ca