University Awards and Honors Nomination Form
Thank you for your interest in nominating an individual to be recognized with one of our many awards and honors. Please complete the form below and upload supporting documents as requested. The selection process for Commencement 2026 has concluded. Nominations will be considered for 2027.
Honorary Degrees and University-Wide Awards
Honorary degrees are granted to individuals from outside the University community who have achieved great distinction in academics, private enterprise, public service, or the arts.
The Charles Force Hutchison and Marjorie Smith Hutchison Medal is awarded to University of Rochester alumni in recognition of their outstanding achievement and notable service to the community, state, or nation.
The George Eastman Medal recognizes individuals whose achievements and service embody the University of Rochester’s highest ideals. The medal is named for George Eastman, the University’s major benefactor and one of the nation’s great champions of higher education.
The Frederick Douglass Medal is given to distinguished individuals whose scholarship and civic engagement honor Frederick Douglass’s legacy. The award is given out by the University’s Frederick Douglass Institute and Department of Black Studies.
The Rochester Distinguished Scholar award recognizes doctoral alumni who have led distinguished careers in academia, private enterprise, public service, or the arts. An individual is eligible for the award if they have earned a doctoral degree from Rochester and are not currently employed by the University.
Nomination Requirements: Letter of support from the Dean; nominee’s CV.
This award recognizes a record of distinguished undergraduate teaching, typically developed over at least eight years. Recipients have demonstrated readiness to help less experienced faculty colleagues or teaching assistants master their craft. Winners are honored with a citation at commencement and receive a monetary award.
Nomination Requirements: Letter of support from the Dean; nominee’s CV; between two and five letters of support from current or former students.
This award recognizes a faculty member who has excelled in graduate instruction, particularly in doctoral programs. The award is presented at the doctoral commencement ceremony each May.
Nomination Requirements: Letter of support from a chair or program director; nominee’s CV; between two and five letters of support from current or former students; a list of former doctoral students and their current positions, if not included in the CV.
The Lifetime Achievement in Graduate Education Award recognizes faculty members who have provided outstanding education to doctoral students at the University. Winners have provided strong guidance and mentorship to their students, and their students in turn have gone on to make important contributions in scholarship, business, or government.
Nomination Requirements: Letter of support from a chair or program director; nominee’s CV; between two and five letters of support from current or former students; a list of former doctoral students and their current positions, if not included in the CV.
Established in honor of Professor Ralph Helmkamp (Class of 1911, professor of chemistry), this award recognizes teaching excellence by a non-tenured faculty member. It is intended for faculty on the tenure track who have not yet been tenured. The recipient is honored with a citation at commencement and receives a monetary award.
Nomination Requirements: Letter of support from the Dean; nominee’s CV; between two and five letters of support from current or former students.