Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents policy provides that: "Honorary degrees may be awarded to persons who have made significant contributions to the improvement of the quality of academic programs and academic life at the requesting institution, or to distinguished visitors. Persons currently holding elective office shall not be eligible to be nominated for an honorary degree, except that the Board of Regents reserves the right to waive this limitation at its own discretion in extraordinary circumstances." (NSHE Policy and Procedures Manual, Chapter 8)

Beyond these general guidelines each institution within the Nevada System of Higher Education is given discretion to adopt criteria and a process for selection of honorary degree recipients.

Criteria and Qualifications

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas strives to recognize those select few individuals who are appropriately awarded an honorary degree. As the university's highest honor, such individuals must have shown themselves to be distinguished individuals with a record of support to education, to the university, or to humanity and who will bring honor to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas through his or her eminence. Individuals so selected shall meet at least one of the following qualifications.

• A substantial record of achievement leading to broad national or international recognition
• A substantial record of scholarship resulting in significant national and international recognition
• A substantial record of service at the local, state, regional, or national level to merit recognition for outstanding contributions to the welfare of citizens
• A record of significant financial or intellectual support to the University or to faculty and students of the University
• A prominent alum of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• A distinguished visitor to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• A role model to and for the University community

Process

Candidates for an honorary degree may be nominated by any individual member of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas community or by any academic college, school, or department. All nominations shall be reviewed by the Honorary Degree Committee and nonbinding recommendations shall be made to the President.

Members of the Honorary Degree Committee shall consist of:

1. Executive Vice President and Provost (chair)
2. Vice President for Advancement
3. A dean selected by the Council of Deans
4. A representative of Faculty Senate selected according to Faculty Senate policy and who must be a full time academic faculty member
5. The most recent recipient of the UNLV Outstanding Department Chair or School Director Award
6. The undergraduate vice president of the UNLV chapter of Phi Kappa Phi
7. A graduate student selected by the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA)

Once the President has endorsed the recommendation of an honorary degree, it will be submitted to the Board of Regents for final approval.