• About the Regents
  • Regents’ Bios and Pictures
  • Regents' Contact Information
  • Regents Emeriti
  • List of Regents for University Publications
  • University of Michigan Executive Officers
• Meetings
  • Meeting Dates
  • Schedules and Agendas
  • Minutes
  • Addressing the Board
  • Meeting Preparation
• Proceedings
• Bylaws
  • Preface
  • Chapter I. The Board of Regents
  • Chapter II. University Executive Officers
  • Chapter III. Business Management, Finance, and Property
  • Chapter IV. The University Senate
  • Chapter Va. The Faculties And Academic Staff
  • Chapter VI. Schools and Colleges: Program Definitions
  • Chapter VII. Student Affairs
  • Chapter VIII. Admission And Registration Of Students
  • Chapter IX. Commencement And Degrees
  • Chapter X. Fees And Charges
  • Chapter XI. The Schools And Colleges And Affiliated Units
  • Chapter XII. The University Libraries
  • Chapter XIII. Other University Units, Agencies, and Services
  • Chapter XIV. Miscellaneous Rules and Regulations
• Regents' Ordinance
• Seal and Trademarks
• Office of Vice President
  and Secretary of the University

Chapter IX. Commencement and Degrees

• Sec. 9.01. Board of Regents to Grant Degrees
• Sec. 9.02. Recommendations for Degrees in Course
• Sec. 9.03. Recommendations for Honorary Degrees (revised July 2008)
• Sec. 9.04. Honorary Alumni
• Sec. 9.05. Regents' Citation of Honor
• Sec. 9.06. Outstanding Achievement Award

Bylaws Table of Contents | Detailed Table of Contents

Sec. 9.01. Board of Regents to Grant Degrees

All degrees of the university in course and all honorary degrees are granted by the Board of Regents on recommendation by the several authorities as hereinafter prescribed.

Sec. 9.02. Recommendations for Degrees in Course

Recommendations of candidates for degrees in course shall be made by the governing bodies of the appropriate schools or colleges and forwarded to the Board of Regents. No student shall be recommended for a degree in course until all of the student's requirements for the degree have been met, nor shall the student be recommended if the governing body of the school or college in which the student is enrolled is notified that there are fees or other matured obligations to the university remaining unpaid.

Degrees in course shall be awarded at Commencement and at such other times as prescribed by the Board of Regents.

Sec. 9.03. Recommendations for Honorary Degrees (revised July 2008)

Recommendations for honorary degrees shall be made by an Honorary Degrees Committee, which shall be constituted as follows:

1. Seven members of the University Senate to be appointed by the Board of Regents on recommendation of the president from a panel nominated by SACUA which panel shall contain twice the number to be appointed. At least one of the appointed senate members shall be from The University of Michigan-Flint or The University of Michigan-Dearborn. Appointed senate members shall serve for terms of three years each, so adjusted that at least two vacancies shall occur each year.
2. Two university alumni/ae to be appointed by the Board of Regents on recommendation of the president from a panel nominated by the Alumni Association which panel shall contain twice the number to be appointed. Appointed alumni/ae members shall serve for terms of two years each, so adjusted that one vacancy shall occur each year.
3. Two students appointed by the Board of Regents on recommendation of the president from a panel nominated by MSA which panel shall contain twice the number to be appointed. Appointed student members shall serve for terms of two years each, so adjusted that one vacancy shall occur each year.
4. The provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, the vice president for development, the vice president for government relations, the vice president and secretary of the university, and the president.
5. The dean of the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, who shall be chair.

Honorary degrees may be conferred by the Board of Regents at commencement, at university convocations, or at special convocations of the several schools or colleges. Honorary degrees normally will be conferred only when the honoree is present. On rare and unusual occasions an honorary degree may be conferred in absentia.

Sec. 9.04. Honorary Alumni

The title of honorary alumnus or alumna may be conferred by the Board of Regents upon persons not holding degrees from the university whose interest in the university shall entitle them to the privilege of affiliation with university alumni. Nominations shall be made through the president to the Board of Regents.

Sec. 9.05. Regents' Citation of Honor

The Regents' Citation of Honor is conferred by the Regents upon individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the life and welfare of the university or who by unusual or unique accomplishment or service merit the approbation of the Board of Regents. Nominations shall come directly from the Board of Regents to the Committee on Honorary Degrees. The citation is not limited to alumni of the university.

Sec. 9.06. Outstanding Achievement Award

Nominations for the Outstanding Achievement Award shall be made to the Board of Regents by the Committee on Honorary Degrees, which acts as a clearing house for recommendations made to it by the schools and colleges. Awards shall be presented by the Board of Regents to alumni of the university at university convocations or other appropriate occasions.

Bylaws Table of Contents | Detailed Table of Contents

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Bylaws updated: November 2009 (revision of Sections 11.43, 11.44, and 11.45)