September 23, 2024
Dear USC Community,
As chair of the Honorary Degrees Committee, I humbly request your participation in this year’s nomination process. The USC Honorary Degree is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge those we regard as most outstanding by bestowing the university’s highest external honor.
The nomination process is straight-forward and details can be found on the Honorary Degrees website. Nominations can only be submitted by USC faculty, staff, students, alumni, or trustees, and any proposed candidates for this academic year will be eligible to receive an honorary degree no earlier than 2026 Commencement.
To submit a nomination, please use the form online. Each nomination will require the names of the nominator and a co-nominator, a summary statement regarding the proposed candidate, and any supplementary information that supports the nomination.
Confidentiality is crucial to this process. Nominees must not know that they are under consideration. No letters of support should be solicited from anyone outside USC. Any breach of confidentiality will disqualify the nominee.
The Committee especially welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds, as well as those whose accomplishments highlight areas in which the university has special strength. Although a direct connection to USC is not required, an honorary degree from USC may bring the recipient closer to USC. Please note that current USC faculty and staff are not eligible, except if proposed by the President.
The Honorary Degrees Committee considers every nomination, and each year proposes a slate of candidates to the President and the Board of Trustees, who select the final recipients. Please note, the commencement speaker is selected through a different process.
More details about the process, the nomination form, and a list of past recipients can be found on our website.
Thank you for participation in this important Trojan tradition.
Sincerely,
Margo K. Apostolos
Chair, Honorary Degrees Committee