University of Maine Honorary Degrees

Call for Nominations

The University of Maine Honorary Degree Committee seeks nominations for honorary degrees to be awarded at the May 2027 Commencement Ceremonies.

The awarding of honorary degrees is an opportunity to draw positive attention to the university through the recognition of an individual who has a record of world class achievement that has had a profound impact on society. Please consider submitting a nomination for this special University of Maine honor.

To submit a nomination, please use this University of Maine Honorary Degree nomination form.

A separate nomination should be used for each nominee and be accompanied by a nomination letter (no more than five pages) that includes the following information:

  • a compelling rationale for the nominee,
  • relevant biographical data,
  • description of the nominee’s regional, national, or international prominence,
  • description of the nominee’s connection to the state of Maine, if applicable
  • the candidate’s most notable accomplishments and how these achievements make this individual worthy of receiving an honorary degree, and
  • why it is particularly appropriate for this person to receive an honorary degree from the University of Maine.

Please submit the completed nomination materials no later than Friday, December 12, 2025. If you have questions, please contact Taylor Defa in the Office of the President at 207.581.1774.

View a list of prior recipients

Board of Trustees Policy Statement

Last Revised: 05/18/15

Honorary degrees are subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. Honorary degrees may be conferred by any university of the University of Maine System to persons of notable achievement in an academic field, the arts and letters, the professions, or public service. All nominees will be expected to have some connection with the State of Maine, except in the case of certain internationally and nationally known persons.

Candidates for honorary degrees may be nominated by Trustees, Chancellor, Presidents, or private citizens. Approved nominations from an institution shall be awarded as a degree from that institution. There shall also be a University of Maine System degree. Nominations for the system degree may come from Trustees, Chancellor or Presidents with the Trustees designating the institution for conferring the degree.

In developing nominations, it is understood that honorary degrees shall not be conferred on faculty or staff within the University of Maine System until their employment with the institution has ended or on Trustees until five years after their retirement from the Board; nor awarded to local or state government officials during their terms of office, nor awarded posthumously or in absentia. Normally, an individual shall not receive more than one honorary degree from the University of Maine System or its Universities in a five-year period. Commencement speakers shall not be automatically nominated to receive an honorary degree, nor should nominees be contacted prior to the Board’s consideration. A President may forward more nominations than the number of honorary degrees the campus wishes to award. Following endorsement by the Board of Trustees, the president will make final selections based on factors such as the nominee’s availability and acceptance.

Action on honorary degree nominations shall normally be taken at the January Board meeting.

Related Documents:
Administrative Procedures for Honorary Degree Policy