PRO 3.050 Board of Trustee Awards

The Kirtland Community College Board of Trustees has the authority to grant special recognition to those persons of exceptional distinction.   

Honorary Associate Degree

1. Purpose:
   1. To honor meritorious and outstanding service to the College and/or to the community at large; and,
   2. To recognize persons whose lives serve as examples of the College’s aspirations for its students.
2. The Nature of the Honorary Degree:
   The Board of Trustees shall award all honorary degrees in the name of Kirtland Community College. As authorized by law, the Board of Trustees has selected to offer the following registered honorary degrees: Associate in Science and Arts, Associate in Applied Science, Associate in Accounting, or Associate in Business Administration.
   1. The specific honorary degree awarded shall be appropriate to the nature of the attainment which is being recognized. The following are areas in which individuals may have made significant contributions:
      1. Educational Service: recognizing outstanding service that enhances educational opportunities for the area or that gives personal assistance that leads to the success of individuals in higher education.
      2. Humanitarian Service: recognizing outstanding altruism that enhances the quality of life for others in the area
      3. Servant Leadership: recognizing outstanding service that goes “the second mile” beyond the servant’s paid job description in any area of leadership and that benefits others and/or enhances their leadership capabilities.
      4. Arts: recognizing outstanding contributions to the arts in any form that enhances the quality of life in the area.
      5. Entrepreneurial Leadership: recognizing outstanding contributions to business/industry through creative start-ups of new enterprises or through innovative management or business or industry.
3. Eligibility:
   1. An individual who has made a significant, noteworthy contribution to Kirtland Community College and/or to the community at large.
   2. An individual who has demonstrated an enduring commitment of commendable service to Kirtland Community College.
   3. Honorary Degrees may be awarded in absentia and posthumously, but only in the case of extraordinary and compelling circumstances.
4. Nominations Process:
   1. Nominations for honorary degree recipients will be accepted from any member of the College community, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, board members, and friends of the College.
   2. Each nomination must include a nomination form with a letter of support that speaks to the criteria above. 
   3. Nominations must be submitted to the College President by December 31st of the fall semester and be presented to the Board no later than March 1st of the following year. 
5. Awarding of Honorary Degrees:
   1. The College President, in consultation with an advisory committee that shall be composed of representatives from the Faculty; Kirtland Community College Foundation; Administration; Staff; and Board Members, shall review all nominations received by the deadline and make a recommendation to the College President. 
   2. Each nomination will be intensely scrutinized by the advisory committee to ensure the continued integrity of the award process.
   3. The advisory committee reserves the right to request additional information determined to be helpful in making a recommendation. 
   4. The Board of Trustees will receive time to consider nominations before formally voting on the requested nomination. 
   5. A unanimous vote of board members present at the meeting is required for a nomination to be approved. 
   6. Once approved, a nominee may choose to either accept or reject the award. In the event that a nominee is deceased, the next of kin shall be notified and have the ability to accept or reject the award.
   7. Honorary Degrees shall be bestowed upon the recipient during commencement ceremony activities by the College President, Chair of the Board of Trustees, or another Trustee designated by the Chair.
   8. Recipients shall receive a plaque commemorating their commitment to the community and Kirtland Community College.
   9. No more than two Honorary Degrees shall be awarded in any academic year except under special circumstances.
6. Revoking an Honorary Degree:
   1. The authority to revoke a previously awarded Honorary Degree rests with the Kirtland Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees may revoke an Honorary Degree if, in its judgment, the recipient of the degree has engaged in conduct that:
      1. is inconsistent with Kirtland’s mission and/or values;
      2. undermines the accomplishments that were cited as the basis for awarding the honorary degree; or
      3. is injurious to the reputation of Kirtland or any of its constituent campuses. 
   2. The Board of Trustees’ revocation of an Honorary Degree must be supported by the President’s recommendation, made after an evaluation of the necessity for such action using the same procedures followed for the selection and nomination of that Honorary Degree recipient.

Distinguished Service Award

1. Purpose:
   1. To honor meritorious and outstanding service to the College and/or to the community at large; and,
   2. To recognize persons whose lives serve as examples of the College’s aspirations for its students.
2. The Nature of the Distinguished Service Award:
   1. The Board of Trustees, at its discretion, may grant the Distinguished Service Award to those individuals who have significantly contributed to the growth of Kirtland Community College and who have had a lasting impact on the longevity of the College.
      1. Educational Service: recognizing outstanding service that enhances educational opportunities at Kirtland Community College or that gives personal assistance that leads to the success of individuals in higher education.
      2. Servant Leadership: recognizing outstanding service at Kirtland Community College that goes “the second mile” beyond the servant’s paid job description in any area of leadership and that benefits others and/or enhances their leadership capabilities.
3. Eligibility:
   1. An individual who has made a significant, noteworthy contribution to Kirtland Community College.
   2. An individual who has demonstrated an enduring commitment of commendable service to Kirtland Community College.
   3. Distinguished Service Awards may be awarded in absentia and posthumously, but only in the case of extraordinary and compelling circumstances.
4. Nominations Process:
   1. Nominations for Distinguished Service Award recipients will be accepted from any member of the College community, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, board members, and friends of the College.
   2. Each nomination must include a nomination form with a letter of support that speaks to the criteria above. 
   3. Nominations must be submitted to the College President by December 31st of the fall semester and be presented to the Board no later than March 1st of the following year.
5. Awarding of Distinguished Service Awards:
   1. The College President, in consultation with an advisory committee that shall be composed of representatives from the Faculty; Kirtland Community College Foundation; Administration; Staff; and Board Members, shall review all nominations received by the deadline and make a recommendation to the College President. 
   2. Each nomination will be intensely scrutinized by the advisory committee to ensure the continued integrity of the award process.
   3. The advisory committee reserves the right to request additional information determined to be helpful in making a recommendation.
   4. The Board of Trustees will receive time to consider nominations before formally voting on the requested nomination. 
   5. A unanimous vote of board members present at the meeting is required for a nomination to be approved. 
   6. Once approved, a nominee may choose to either accept or reject the award. In the event that a nominee is deceased, the next of kin shall be notified and have the ability to accept or reject the award.
   7. Distinguished Service Awards shall be bestowed upon the recipient during a special event or an open Board meeting by the College President, Chair of the Board of Trustees, or another Trustee designated by the Chair.
   8. Recipients shall receive a plaque commemorating their commitment to the community and Kirtland Community College.
   9. No more than two Distinguished Service Awards shall be awarded in any academic year except under special circumstances.
6. Revoking a Distinguished Service Award:
   1. The authority to revoke a previously awarded the Distinguished Service Award rests with the Kirtland Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees may revoke the Distinguished Service Award if, in its judgment, the recipient of the degree has engaged in conduct that:
      1. is inconsistent with Kirtland’s mission and/or values;
      2. undermines the accomplishments that were cited as the basis for awarding the honorary degree; or
      3. is injurious to the reputation of Kirtland or any of its constituent campuses. 
   2. The Board of Trustees’ revocation of a Distinguished Service Award must be supported by the President’s recommendation, made after an evaluation of the necessity for such action using the same procedures followed for the selection and nomination of that Distinguished Service Award recipient.

Emeritus/Honoraire Status Award

1. Purpose:
   1. To honor meritorious and outstanding service to the College and/or to the community at large; and,
   2. To recognize persons whose lives serve as examples of the College’s aspirations for its students.
2. The Nature Emeritus/Honoraire Status:
   1. The Board of Trustees, at its discretion, may grant Emeritus or Honoraire Status to those individuals who have significantly contributed to the growth of Kirtland Community College and who have had a lasting impact on the longevity of the College.
      1. Educational Service: recognizing outstanding service that enhances educational opportunities at Kirtland Community College or that gives personal assistance that leads to the success of individuals in higher education.
      2. Servant Leadership: recognizing outstanding service at Kirtland Community College that goes “the second mile” beyond the servant’s paid job description in any area of leadership and that benefits others and/or enhances their leadership capabilities.
3. Eligibility:
   1. An individual who has made a significant, noteworthy contribution to Kirtland Community College.
   2. An individual who has demonstrated an enduring commitment of commendable service to Kirtland Community College.
   3. An individual must have retired directly from Kirtland Community College and completed ten years of consecutive service at Kirtland Community College prior to that retirement. 
   4. Emeritus Status may be awarded to faculty members or an administrator. 
   5. Honoraire Status may be awarded to classified staff members. 
   6. Emeritus and Honoraire Status may be awarded in absentia and posthumously, but only in the case of extraordinary and compelling circumstances.
4. Nominations Process:
   1. Nominations for Emeritus/Honoraire status recipients will be accepted from any current Kirtland Community College employee.
   2. Each nomination must include a nomination form with a letter of support. 
   3. Nominations must be submitted to the College President by December 31st of the fall semester and be presented to the Board no later than March 1st of the following year.
5. Awarding of Emeritus/Honoraire Status:
   1. The College President, in consultation with an advisory committee that shall be composed of representatives from the Faculty; Administration; Staff; and Board Members, shall review all nominations received by the deadline and make a recommendation to the College President. 
   2. Each nomination will be intensely scrutinized by the advisory committee to ensure the continued integrity of the award process.
   3. The advisory committee reserves the right to request additional information determined to be helpful in making a recommendation.
   4. The Board of Trustees will receive time to consider nominations before formally voting on the requested nomination. 
   5. A unanimous vote of board members present at the meeting is required for a nomination to be approved. 
   6. Once approved, a nominee may choose to either accept or reject the award. In the event that a nominee is deceased, the next of kin shall be notified and have the ability to accept or reject the award.
   7. Emeritus/Honoraire Status shall be bestowed upon the recipient during a special event or an open Board meeting by the College President, Chair of the Board of Trustees, or another Trustee designated by the Chair.
   8. Recipients shall receive a plaque commemorating their commitment to Kirtland Community College. Recipients will also receive a scholarship covering tuition for one course or covering fee for one non-credit class per semester. This scholarship may be used by the recipient or by a member of that person’s immediate family. 
6. Revoking Emeritus/Honoraire Status:
   1. The authority to revoke a previously awarded the Emeritus/Honoraire Status rests with the Kirtland Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees may revoke the Emeritus/Honoraire Status if, in its judgment, the recipient of the degree has engaged in conduct that:
      1. is inconsistent with Kirtland’s mission and/or values;
      2. undermines the accomplishments that were cited as the basis for awarding the honorary degree; or
      3. is injurious to the reputation of Kirtland or any of its constituent campuses. 
   2. The Board of Trustees’ revocation of Emeritus/Honoraire Status must be supported by the President’s recommendation, made after an evaluation of the necessity for such action using the same procedures followed for the selection and nomination of that Emeritus/Honoraire Status Award recipient.

To view the policy go to POL 3.050 Board of Trustee Awards