Honorary Degrees and Awards
Since 1917, St. Stephen's College has granted honorary degrees in recognition of individuals who have made exceptional contributions of leadership or ministry, either to their faith community or in spiritually integrated ways to the broader human community. Honorary degrees and awards are granted to individuals whose meritorious work embodies and extends the mission of St. Stephen's College. To this end, honorary degrees and awards reflect a synergy between the recipient and the spirit of the granting institution.
St. Stephen's confers two honorary degrees and grants one meritorious award. These honours are conferred annually at the College's Fall convocation ceremony.
- Faith community, spiritual tradition, or religious leadership
- Ecumenical and/or interfaith leadership
- Theological scholarship
- Faith and public life
- Community responsibility
- Contributions of academic and scholarly excellence
- Leadership and/or service to the community at large, including public, private, and not-for-profit sectors
- Contributions to literature, the arts, and/or creative outputs
- Excellence in professional practice
- Long-standing and exemplary service to the College
- Contributions to faith communities, spiritual traditions, and/or religions (not necessarily inclusive of faith ministry)
The purpose of an honorary degree and/or award is to:
- Honour persons who have made exceptional contributions of leadership or ministry in their faith community, spiritual tradition, and/or religion; or
- Honour persons who have made significant contributions to the community, which are in sympathy with the vision, mission, and values of the College; or
- Honour persons whose character is deemed worthy of identification with the College.
| Past Honorary Degree and Award Recipients |
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Nomination Process
Nominations for honorary degrees and awards are typically made in writing through the online nomination form. The committee also welcomes oral nominations in instances where the nominee's work is best articulated through storytelling and traditional means of sharing.
Nominations must be submitted no later than May 15 of each calendar year.
The Nomination Form will ask for the following information:
- The name, contact information, and position of the Nominator(s),
- The name, contact information, and position of the Nominee,
- A statement of what honour the nominee is being recommended for (DD, DSL, OSSC),
- A brief curriculum vitae of the Nominee (either in writing (max. 300 words) or through oral account),
- Succinct descriptions (either in writing or through oral account) indicating: (a) what the Nominee does or has done to deserve nomination (max. 300 words), (b) the significance of the nominee's contribution for the community (max. 300 words), (c) recognition of other awards and/or honours the nominee may have already received (if any) (max. 150 words), and (d) evidence of how the nominee's contributions relate to the vision, mission, and values of St. Stephen's College (max. 300 words).
- Two or more reference letters (signed) or oral testimonies, addressed to the Awards and Honorary Degrees Committee
**Note: requirements 1-3 must be made in writing through the online nomination form, while requirements 4-6 can be made either in writing or orally.
Ineligibility
The Committee does not normally consider:
- Nominations of current members of the Board of Governors, the Academic Senate, faculty, staff and administration of the College, employees of the College, or currently serving members of governing bodies or Committees of the College.
- Nominations of active Canadian politicians.
- Nominations of deceased persons (for posthumous awarding of degrees or awards).
Confidentiality
Nominators shall take care to maintain confidentiality, not revealing the nomination to the nominee or to anyone else until the honorary degree or award has been adjudicated by the Academic Senate.
Submission of Nominations
Nominations should be submitted online through the Nomination Form, no later than May 15 of each calendar year. Questions and other correspondence regarding honorary degrees and awards can be directed to the Office of the Dean of St. Stephen's College by email.