History of Honorary Degrees

University of Alberta Honour Roll

Honorary degrees have been a tradition in North American higher education for three hundred years. Harvard bestowed its first honorary degree on Increase Mather, the Puritan clergyman, in 1692. The University of Alberta bestowed its initial honorary degrees at its first Convocation in 1908 when the (then) Lieutenant Governor, Premier and Chief Justice were granted Honorary Doctorates.

The complete listing of honorary degrees granted is published in the annual academic calendar.

Past Honorary Degree Recipients    Nominate Someone for an Honorary Degree

Honorary Degree Recipient Rare Books

In 1987, Chancellor Tevie Miller worked with the librarians at the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library to begin celebrating Honorary Degree Recipients with a rare book that is specially selected to honour recipients' interests and accomplishments. The Senate Library Endowment Fund allows for the purchasing of these books. These gifts have greatly enhanced the library's research collections and they are some of the most frequently requested items in the Special Collections.

To learn more about selections that have been made for our Honorary Degree Recipients, since 1987, please visit the library's online exhibit of these rare books.


What We Do

Senate Strategic Plan

Chancellor's Forum
Committees
Task Forces
Honorary Degrees
Book the Senate Chamber
Emil Skarin Fund
Representatives, Liaisons & Lay Observers

U School Logo    Chancellor's Cup Logo


Contact Us

Office of the Chancellor & Senate
322 Arts & Convocation Hall
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB     T6G 2E6

senate@ualberta.ca
780.492.2268

Senate Staff Contacts