Bulletin
Call for Nominations of Candidates for Honorary Degree, Award for Distinguished Service to the Community, and Commencement Speaker
Members of the Board of Trustees, General Faculty, and the Class of 2026 are invited to nominate candidates for Honorary Degree recipient, recipient of the Award for Distinguished Service to the Community, and Commencement Speaker.
Please observe the following guidelines when submitting nominations:
1. Nominations should be submitted to the Office of the Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary using this form by Friday, November 7, 2025.
2. For each person nominated, please provide a one- to two-page letter including biographical information, educational background, and reasons for your nomination according to the Board of Trustees guidelines as summarized below. This letter is required for a nomination to be considered.
3. If the nominee is an Oberlin alumnus, please include the year of graduation.
4. If available, please provide your nominee's contact information including mailing address, email address, phone number, and/or website.
HONORARY DEGREES: The purpose of awarding Honorary Degrees is to honor persons who have made distinguished contributions in scholarship, music, the arts, business, the professions, or in social service. Generally, recipients should be persons who have not already received wide recognition (numerous Honorary Degrees, public awards, and citations, etc.) for their achievements, and in no instance should the College award an Honorary Degree for the sake of publicity. Persons with an Oberlin connection should be given special consideration. In selecting candidates to be honored for social service, special attention should be given to Oberlin College graduates whose lives and work have exemplified the values of the Oberlin College community.
AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY: This award is to be conferred upon persons from the Lorain County area who have made significant contributions to the welfare of the community and its residents. Oberlin College employees are not eligible.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: If you would like to suggest that your nominee be considered as a Commencement Speaker, please indicate accordingly in your nomination.
The General Faculty Honorary Degrees Committee will consider candidates for these designations. The Board of Trustees will then review the Committee's recommendations and, if the Board deems appropriate, will vote on the Committee's recommendations. Please note that the deliberations and actions of the Committee and the Board are confidential.