For guidelines, instructions and forms, and a list of past MSU Honorary Degree recipients, please visit the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at vprgs.msu.edu/honorary-degree.
How to refer to your honorary degree.
Three visionary leaders addressed Michigan State University’s newest graduates at this year’s spring commencement ceremonies.
The Senior Class Council will select a graduating senior to represent the Class of 2026 at each baccalaureate degree ceremony. Speeches are to be no more than five minutes and should be attention-grabbing, personally meaningful and engaging to your fellow graduating seniors. The Council memo and application for the Fall 2026 semester will be available soon.
We invite Michigan State University undergraduate and graduate students to submit names of notable persons for consideration as speakers at the central undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies. The nominees should be individuals whose accomplishments and values are exemplary. The speaker selections should enhance the ceremonies without deflecting attention from the graduates, whose academic achievements are being recognized.
Guidelines for selection, as defined by past student committees, include the following:
Lists of nominees will be compiled and shared with the president. Final selections rest with the president of the university. Please be aware that identifying and securing external speakers is a complex process involving many considerations and requiring a firm commitment on the part of those invited.
Please include with your recommendation a brief identification of the individual being nominated and the ceremony (graduate or undergraduate; semester and year) for which you are nominating the person. Be aware that selection and arrangements normally take a minimum of six months to complete.
Email recommendations to commencement@msu.edu.