UW Accepts Nominations for Honorary Degrees and Trustees’ Award of Merit

The University of Wyoming is accepting nominations for 2025 honorary degrees and the Trustees' Award of Merit.

Nominations for honorary degrees are due to the Office of the President by Nov. 1. Nominations for the Trustees' Award of Merit are accepted on a rolling basis by the UW Board of Trustees' Joint Honorary Degree and Awards Committee.

Honorary Degrees

UW alumni, current or former trustees, faculty, staff and students all are eligible to submit written nominations for honorary degrees to be presented in the spring. Submissions are referred to the Joint Honorary Degree and Awards Committee, which will forward recommendations to the full Board of Trustees for approval.

"An honorary degree from the University of Wyoming recognizes excellence in individuals who embody the university's high ideals and exemplify the values of excellence, service and integrity," UW President Ed Seidel says. "These degrees recognize outstanding accomplishments in all professions, public service or service to humanity. These are among the highest honors a university can confer."

Each nomination should include the name of the nominee, provide contact information and address at least one of the following criteria: outstanding contribution to the lives of the people of Wyoming; outstanding career or lifetime accomplishment on a state, national or international level by an alumna or alumnus of UW; or accomplishments so exemplary as to have won recognition on a national or international level, with relevance to Wyoming.

Nomination materials should include a letter of nomination that describes fully how the nominee meets at least one of the above criteria; a vitae or similar document describing the nominee's accomplishments (not to exceed 10 pages), including a list of public recognitions, public presentations, awards, honors and publications; a one- or two-paragraph summary describing the nominee's qualifications; and two letters of support detailing explicit examples of how the nominee meets the criteria.

Not eligible for honorary degrees are current UW employees (except faculty emeritus) and public officeholders, or those who left office less than one year ago, along with their immediate family members.

Honorary degree submissions should be sent to: UW President Ed Seidel, Department 3434, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071; or by email to [email protected]. For more information, call (307) 766-4121 or go online to www.uwyo.edu/honorarydegree.

Trustees' Award of Merit

The Trustees' Award of Merit, meanwhile, was established in 1984 by the Board of Trustees to recognize individuals and groups who have rendered meritorious service or made exemplary contributions to UW. Nominations for this award must be submitted by a UW vice president or dean.

The Trustees' Award of Merit recognizes contributions and service that demonstrate:

-- Consistent and persistent performance above and beyond the norm and that of one's peers.

-- Distinguished achievement attaining state, regional or national acclamation.

-- Exceptional classroom or laboratory work furthering the academic mission of the university, again surpassing expectations and the work of one's peers.

-- Dedicated support to students, faculty, staff or the mission of UW.

-- Successful completion of complex committee work or special assignments.

-- Outstanding service to UW or its constituents through the exemplary performance of a specific duty or obligation; a superior level of performance over a period of time; effective representation of student, faculty, staff or alumni; or exceptional contributions to the growth and well-being of the institution.

More information on eligibility guidelines and the nomination process for the Trustees' Award of Merit is available here.

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