Please see the honorary degree criteria, guidelines, and eligibility before making a nomination. Use of the web form to submit your nomination is strongly preferred. Otherwise, you may download a version of the form, complete it, and e-mail, fax or mail to:

Emily L. Swafford
Assistant Dean
Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies
1120 Rackham
915 East Washington Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1070
Phone: (734) 936-1647
Email: swafford@umich.edu

NOTE: Information for all nominations must be presented in the format outlined or they will not be considered.

Questions can be directed to HDnominations@umich.edu or by calling (734) 764-4400.

Nomination Deadlines

Nominations may be submitted at any time using the Honorary Degree Nomination Submission Form, but the nomination deadline for candidates to be considered for the 2025 Spring Commencement Exercises is September 30th by 5pm. The Honorary Degree Committee typically meets twice a year, in the Fall and Spring, to consider nominations and forward its recommendations to the President and Board of Regents.

Following acknowledgement of a nomination, additional information about the candidates will be collected for review by the Honorary Degree Committee. The Committee will consider and approve (or not) the candidates, and the Chair will notify nominators of the result. Even in the case of successful nominations, please remember that it may take a considerable period of time for the degree actually to be conferred. Official notification of the University’s wish to confer an honorary degree upon an individual is made by the President on behalf of the Board of Regents and the University of Michigan; nominators will be informed at that time.

Important Notes

• The nominee should not be informed his or her name is being submitted.
• Letters of support on behalf of the nominee should not be solicited.
• Self nominations will not be accepted for consideration.