Final Approval Body: Senior Leadership Team
Senior Administrative Position with Responsibility for Procedure: University Secretary
Date Initially Approved: April 16, 2026
Date of Last Revision: n/a
Purpose
This procedure outlines the nomination and selection process for Honorary Degrees at Queen’s University in accordance with the Senate Honorary Degree Policy.
Procedure
Step 1 – Call for Nominations
The identification of deserving candidates for the consideration of the conferring of Honorary Degrees at Queen’s is a collaborative and community-based activity. An open call for nominations will be issued by the University Secretariat once a year.
The nomination and selection process is strictly confidential; consequently, nominators must not inform or share details of the nomination process with nominees, including the fact that they have been nominated.
Nominations will be accepted at any time during the year, though only those received by the annual deadline will be considered for that year’s nomination cycle.
Responsible officer/unit – University Secretariat
Step 2 – Nominations
The identification of deserving candidates for the consideration of conferring Honorary Degrees at Queen’s is a collaborative and community-based activity. All faculty, staff, students, alumni, and those outside the university community will be invited to submit a nomination by the determined deadline. Self-nominations will not be accepted. Information on the nomination process is available on the University Secretariat website.
By tradition, new principals and chancellors may name the honorary degree recipient for their installation, subject to the approval of Senate. They should be made aware of this provision as soon as planning for an installation begins.
The nomination process is strictly confidential. Nominators must not inform or share details of the nomination process with nominees, including the fact that they have been nominated. All nominators will be notified of the outcome of the adjudication of their nomination prior to the public announcement of those who have accepted the invitation to receive an honorary degree.
Responsible officer/unit – Faculty, staff, students, alumni, and those outside the university community
Step 3 – Compilation of Nomination Packages
The Secretariat will collect nominations and verify that they meet the requirements outlined in the Senate Honorary Degree Policy, including a high-level review of the nominees to identify any potential controversy or concern.
The Secretariat will distribute the nomination packages to the members of the Senate Honorary Degree Committee. The Committee will meet once a year in the winter term to consider nominations.
Responsible officer/unit – University Secretariat
Step 4 – Assessment of Nominations
In selecting the candidates for the award of an honorary degree, the Senate Honorary Degrees Committee should endeavor to strike a balance between outstanding Canadians and international nominees, and between nominees who have not received honorary degrees from other institutions and those who have already received similar recognition.
The Committee is committed to the principles of non-discrimination and equity. Accordingly, and in recognition of the value that diversity brings to governing bodies and in order to help us achieve the goal of reflecting the diversity of Canadian society, individuals from equity deserving groups such as women, Black, racialized persons and Indigenous Peoples, persons with a disability, and persons who identify in the 2SLGBTQI+ community, and others who reflect the diversity and pluralism of Canadian society will be regularly included in the recommendations.
The Senate Honorary Degrees Committee will consider all nominations and select prospective degree recipients and, if it wishes, alternates. The Honorary Degrees Committee will present to the Senate a list of recommended nominees. The Committee may, where it chooses, defer consideration of candidates pending further information.
Mindful that Committee discussions are confidential, in the event that a candidate is not approved, a brief note will be sent to the nominator(s) advising them of the decision.
Responsible officer/unit – Senate Honorary Degrees Committee
Step 5 – Approval of Nominees
Senate will be presented with the recommended candidates’, including alternates, names and nomination information by the Honorary Degrees Committee for its review and approval. Following approval, the University Secretariat will share the recommended candidates with the Office of the University Registrar.
This approval takes place in a closed session of the Senate, as the candidates and the final decision remain confidential until the candidates have been contacted by the University Registrar.
Responsible officer/unit - Senate
Step 6 – Invitations to Receive an Honorary Degree
Once approved by Senate, the Office of the University Registrar liaises with the Office of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor to issue letters of invitation to nominees on behalf of Senate. The invitations are not intended to be open-ended; candidates are expected to communicate their acceptance of the University’s offer in a reasonable time and to attend a convocation ceremony for the conferral of the honorary degree within two years of the offer.
Normally, not more than one honorary degree will be conferred at any convocation ceremony. The Office of the University Registrar will determine which honorary degree will be conferred upon each recipient. The following degrees may be awarded:
- Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)
- Doctor of Science (D.Sc.)
- Doctor of Divinity (D.D.)
In awards to scientists and engineers, the D.Sc. degree should be awarded if the major contribution of the candidate is to pure or applied science. If the major contribution is to public service, the community etc., the LL.D. degree should be awarded. The D.D. degree is awarded on the recommendation of the School of Religion.
The Office of the University Registrar will also determine the ceremony to which the recipient will be invited based on the unit/position of the nominator(s), the nominee’s background, and the reasons for recommending the honorary degree.
If a nominee declines Senate’s invitation to receive an honorary degree, the Principal may select a replacement from the list of alternate nominees approved by Senate. The Office of the University Registrar will provide a report to Senate with the slate of recipients once it has been confirmed.
Responsible officer/unit – Office of the University Registrar, Office of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor
Related Policies, Procedures, Guidelines:
Honorary Degree Policy
Procedure on the Revocation of or Special Statements Concerning an Honorary Degree
Procedures Superseded by this Procedure: n/a
Contact: University Secretariat (univsec@queensu.ca)
Date for Next Review: 2031