The Iowa Board of Regents announced in February that it would be reviewing the honorary degree policy in Iowa. The following month, the board officially adopted a new policy regarding revoking honorary degrees given by universities in Iowa. This policy was adopted to clarify universities’ authority regarding revoking an honorary degree.
According to Indeed, an honorary degree is an award individuals can earn without pursuing a degree at a university or institution. Honorary degrees are usually awarded to people who make a significant impact on a school, the community, or the world. These degrees usually go to those who have committed to a lifetime of service or have had a significant achievement in a certain field.
Honorary degrees are nothing new to the three public universities in Iowa. Iowa State University began awarding these degrees in the 1800s, and since then, more than 230 honorary degrees have been awarded…