We are writing to invite you to nominate candidates for University of Pennsylvania honorary degrees to be presented at the 2003 Commencement. The criterion for selection is the degree to which the candidate reflects the highest ideal of the University, which is to produce graduates who change the world through innovative acts of scholarship, scientific discovery, artistic creativity and/or societal leadership.

We encourage you to involve your faculty colleagues in the procedure. A nomination may be supported by more than one letter from faculty in more than one department. Letters should state how the nominee meets the criterion for selection, what the nominee's unique achievements and contributions are, and why the nominee should be honored by this University at this particular time. Please include as much biographical and other supporting information as possible, but please do not ask the nominee for information, because nominees should not know that they are being considered. We particularly encourage nominations from departments and schools whose fields have not been recognized by honorary degrees in recent years. Please note that it is University policy not to consider Penn standing or emeriti faculty or trustees for Penn honorary degrees.

Please send letters of nomination on your official stationery and sign them. Address nominations to the University Council Committee on Honorary Degrees, c/o Office of the Secretary, 221 College Hall/6303. Also, they may be faxed to (215) 898-0103. If you have any questions, please e-mail or telephone Committee Liaison Molly D. Roth at mroth@pobox.upenn.edu or (215) 898-6408.

Nominations are accepted with gratitude at any time during the year, but those received after November 30, 2001, may not be able to be considered for the 2003 Commencement. The University Council Committee's recommendations are forwarded to the Trustees' Committee on Honorary Degrees and Awards, which makes the final selection.

Each year, the University Council Honorary Degrees Committee reviews previous nominations that have not yet been acted upon by the trustees. It is not unusual for a candidate to be selected a few years after the initial nomination. The list of those who have received University of Pennsylvania honorary degrees in previous years can be found at http://www.upenn.edu/commencement/hist/index.html.

Honorary degrees are an important statement of our values and aspirations as a university, and we strongly encourage your participation in this process.