Examining Southeast's honorary doctorate program

Southeast Missouri State University's most prestigious degree doesn't depend on faculty, course work, grades or even class attendance.

It's an honorary degree and a relatively new concept at Southeast, which awarded its first five years ago -- posthumously in May 1996 to Rush H. Limbaugh Sr., a longtime Cape Girardeau lawyer who died that April at the age of 104.

The university awarded its second and third honorary degrees in 1999 and 2000 to former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois and jazz musician Clark Terry, respectively. Its fourth will go to popular singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow at Saturday's 2 p.m. commencement ceremony at the Show Me Center. Crow will deliver the commencement address.

The Board of Regents decided in December 1995 to begin awarding honorary degrees at the urging of then university president Dr. Bill Atchley.

Atchley said at the time that honorary degrees aren't about academics, they're about promoting a university, attracting nationally known speakers to graduation ceremonies and honoring various types of achievement.

He previously started an honorary degree program at Clemson University in South Carolina.

Don Dickerson, president of the Board of Regents, likes the honorary degrees.

"I think it has served a very good purpose for us," he said. "It gives us a chance to really do something for people who do things for us."

Terry, for example, lent his name and talents to a university jazz festival. Limbaugh was the university's attorney for many years. Simon spoke at university events.

Unlike alumni awards, honorary degree recipients don't have to be graduates of Southeast. Nominations can be submitted to the university president's office, but the regents decide whom to honor and when.

"It is just a coincidence we have had one each of the last three years," Dickerson said. The regents, he said, aren't quick to hand out the award.

The regents won't issue honorary degrees to any of their current members or any politician running for office, Dickerson said. And it's doubtful the board would agree to bestow the honor on anyone without unanimous approval. "We would probably just table it and move on," he said.

Three degrees available

Southeast's policy provides for three honorary doctorates.

The doctor of laws degree is reserved for people who have excelled in the legal profession and government. The doctor of letters degree is for individuals who have excelled in a particular discipline such as music or science. The doctor of humane letters is reserved for individuals who have contributed to humanitarian efforts.

Dr. Ken Dobbins, university president, said Southeast wanted to give Crow an honorary degree at the December 2000 commencement, along with Terry. But Crow, a native of Kennett, Mo., couldn't attend because one of her friends was critically ill.

Dobbins and Dickerson said Crow deserves the honor for what she has done in the music field and also for her fund-raising efforts for Southeast and the university's Kennett Area Higher Education Center.

The Grammy-winning, rock 'n' roll singer raised more than $73,000 in two benefit concerts within the past two years for student scholarships for the Kennett center and Southeast's new School of Visual and Performing Arts.

She is scheduled to perform on Friday at Academic Auditorium to raise more money for the arts school and the Kennett center.

Dobbins said recipients have been pleased to get the honorary degrees.

Simon appreciative

Simon, who received an honorary doctorate of law at the May 1999 commencement, said he appreciates the recognition.

"No question, it is an honor," said Simon, who lives in Makanda, Ill., and has over 50 honorary degrees. "You appreciate the thoughtfulness and spirit behind receiving one of those."

Simon, who currently teaches at Southern Illinois University and heads up the Public Policy Institute at the Carbondale campus, said he's turned over his honorary degrees to SIU's archives center.

As for Southeast officials, they believe it's worth the effort to hand out honorary degrees regardless of where the parchment ends up.

Dickerson said the board's decision to create honorary degrees shows how far the university has come since its days as a teachers college.

With its development as a university, Southeast has become a more prestigious institution, he said.

"At a certain point, you suddenly realize that people might really feel honored to receive an honorary degree," Dickerson said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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