As of Wednesday, no one has yet been nominated to receive an honorary degree from Eastern during this spring’s commencement ceremony, and the deadline is quickly approaching.

All nominations must be submitted to the Office for External Relations by Monday.

Although no nominations have been received at this time, the office expects to have a few come in by the deadline, said Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations.

Anyone may nominate an individual to be considered for an honorary degree. Requests for nominations appear in the university newsletter and letters sent to the dean of each college and to the chairs of each department.

The criteria are: “persons who have achieved a record of major distinction at the state or national level in such areas as education, public service, research, humanities, business, or the professions. In exceptional circumstances, honorary degrees may be awarded to persons who, though they have not achieved national or statewide recognition, have made an especially outstanding and significant contribution to the University or higher education,” according to Eastern’s Internal Governing Policies.

“The process certainly does allow the university to recognize individuals who have achieved distinction in the profession, served the university, and who have made significant contributions to society,” Nilsen said.

Once all nominations have been received they will be forwarded to the Honorary Degree Committee for review, then to the president, and finally to the Board of Trustees, who will consider the nominations at its Jan. 22 meeting.

The Honorary Degree Committee is composed of representatives from each college, as well as the chairs from each department. Members of the committee are appointed by the president of the university and serve a two-year term of office.

The current members are Nilsen (ex officio), Barbara Carlsward, John Willems, Bradley Tolppanen, Rebecca Cook, Kaye Woodward and John Dively.

Carlsward currently serves as the committee’s president.

“I’m pretty new at this, but so far my role as president is to send out letters soliciting nominations for the Honorary Degree Award and, once the nominations come in, help decide who will get those awards,” Carlsward said. “This is one of my favorite committees because we get to reward people outside the University for their efforts; it’s a very positive experience.”

Some familiar names are among those who been awarded honorary degrees from eastern in the past. Max G. Carman, Edson H. Taylor, Robert G. Buzzard, Newton E. Tarble, Richard H. Lumpkin, Quincy V. Doudna, James Giffin and Lucine Gabbard are all former distinguished faculty members who have received an honorary degree and have also had structures on campus erected in their name.

“Many of the recipients are former faculty members, and this is a way to honor them for their services,” Nilsen Said.

Some prominent figures are also among past recipients. Folk singer and actor Burl Ives, former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar, former Senator Paul H. Douglas, and world famous opera singer Matthew Polenzani have all also received honorary degrees from Eastern.

“Most of our recipients are very surprised that they have been nominated and are extremely grateful to have been awarded an honorary degree,” Nilsen said.

Jason Hardimon can be reached at 581-7942 or jrhardimon2@eiu.edu.