Honorary Degrees

The University of Regina Act gives Senate the power to grant honorary degrees and Senate and Executive of Council joint authority to approve candidates.  The Chancellor confers honorary degrees as recommended by the President who makes selections from the approved candidate list.

The Senate By-laws provide for a Joint Committee of Senate and Council on Ceremonies, which recommends appropriate guidelines and criteria for the awarding of honorary degrees, invites, receives and reviews suggestions for candidates to whom honorary degrees might be awarded, and recommends for approval to Senate and Council candidates for honorary degrees.

Honorary Degree Categories

The University of Regina awards four honorary degrees:

• Doctor of Fine Arts honoris causa (DFA) – awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement in visual or performing arts. 

• Doctor of Laws honoris causa (LLD) - awarded in recognition of exceptional service to the University or the community at large.  This generic honorary degree is the most frequently awarded.

• Doctor of Letters honoris causa (DLitt) – awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement in the humanities or literature.

• Doctor of Science honoris causa (DSc) – awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement in the pure and applied sciences.

Principles/Statement of Purpose

An honorary degree is the highest honour the University can bestow. Acceptance of an honorary degree by a candidate brings honour to both the recipient and the University.

Honorary degrees will be conferred at every convocation but not necessarily every ceremony.

Categories of Nomination

The Ceremonies Committee will take the following considerations into account when selecting candidates:

• A Saskatchewan or prairie figure, well known and respected regionally for distinguished work which has earned him or her a reputation in public service.

• A distinguished person from a professional field or the creative arts field who is recognized as having achieved a reputation for excellence.

• A scientist, humanitarian, public servant or public figure who is recognized nationally or internationally for distinguished work and reputation.

• A visionary leader whose presence at Convocation would be inspiring to the graduating class.

On occasion, special efforts may be made to mark the time or circumstance by placing special emphasis on some particular field of endeavour.

Exclusion List

The following persons are not eligible for consideration for an honorary degree:

• current members of the Board of Governors or Senate (excluding Chancellors  Emeriti);

• current or recent members of the faculty or staff of the University;

• current students; and

• holders of elected office at any level (such as municipal, provincial, or federal)