Washington, Apr 10: While reports suggest that U. S. President Barack Obama will be honored with an honorary degree by Arizona University when he speaks at commencement on May 13, the university has decided against it.
The university has decided not to honor Barack with the ‘Lifetime achievement’ award because it is meant for eminent personalities who have worked in their particular fields for an appreciable amount of time.
Barack, according to the university, has just embarked upon the beginning of his presidency.
“It’s normally awarded to someone who has been in their field for some time,” The Politico quoted Arizona State University’s spokeswoman Sharon Keeler, as saying.
“Considering that the president is at the beginning of his presidency, his body of work is just beginning,” she added.
Though Barack has been invited by the university to speak at its commencement, a six-member committee has not nominated him to be awarded the degree.
Keeler revealed that, as per the regulations, one committee invites the speaker and a separate committee votes on who will receive an honorary degree.
However, in Baracks’s case, he was invited without the honorary degree committee selecting him.
ASU does not have plans to award any more honorary degrees during the course of the academic year, though Keeler revealed that the University could potentially to do so.
“Our process is different. He has to go through the nominating committee, and I don’t know if there is sufficient time for that to happen,” Keeler said. (ANI)