To: Bureau Directors
Regional Directors
Presidents, State Colleges and Universities
Heads of Private Schools, Colleges and Universities

1. In keeping with the thrusts and developments in contemporary higher education, amendments to the provisions for the grant of honorary degrees as stipulated in Department Order No. 45, s. 1976 are construed as necessary. They are meant to further protect, preserve and enhance the honor and value of degrees granted in honoris causa.
2. The conferment of honorary degrees, a time-honored tradition and practice in every formal educational system, public or private, shall be governed by the following revised guidelines hereby promulgated for strict observance:
   1. The award of an honorary degree shall be solely limited to the doctoral level and only schools authorized to offer the post graduate (doctoral) program shall be permitted to award honorary degrees, provided, however, that the honorary degrees shall be on recognized course/s offered by the schools.
   2. The award shall be given as recognition of exceptionally meritorious achievenments of persons in the arts, sciences, the humanities, and public service. No award shall be given on a quid pro quo basis or for publicity purpose. Neither shall an award be given to the administrators or faculty members in the service of the school concerned or to incumbent officials of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, including its agencies.
   3. Among the honorary degrees which may be awarded by schools are:
      1. Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), which shall be considered an appropriate award to an honoree who has distinguished himself in general service to country, to education, and to mankind.
      2. Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.), which shall be given to an honoree in recognition of his scholarly work in a particular discipline;
      3. Doctor of Science (Sc.D.), which shall be awarded to an honoree who has made outstanding contributions to science; and
      4. Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.), which shall be granted to an honoree who has distinguished himself in the humanities.
   4. The conferment of an honorary degree shall be bestowed to the honoree personally and shall invariably be given on the occasion of the annual graduation exercises of the school concerned, except as may be allowed by the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports.
   5. The authority to confer any degree in honoris causa shall be limited to universities, or to colleges that have existed for a period of at least fifty (50) years, except as may otherwise be allowed by the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports.
   6. No consortium or consortia between or among schools for the purpose of awarding any honorary degree shall be allowed.
   7. The Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports shall be the sole granting authority to award an honorary degree.
3. With the corresponding recommendation of the school head, the application for the grant of an honorary degree shall be supported by the following documents:
   1. A resolution of the governing board of the school on the approval of the proposed conferment;
   2. A citation of achievement or merit of the proposed honoree; and
   3. The curriculum vitae of the proposed honoree.
      The application shall be coursed through the DECS Regional Director in consonance with paragraph 3 section c on Recommendatory Authorities of MECS Order No. 48, s. 1986. The Regional Director shall forward the same with his comment and recommendation to the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports through the Director of the Bureau of Higher Education for appropriate action.
4. The grant of any honorary degree without the required approval of the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports shall be treated as a valid cause for administrative action against the school and/or its officials concerned.
5. It is desired that the guidelines herein prescribed be disseminated to all concerned for immediate compliance.

References: Department Order No. 45, s. 1976
MEC Order No. 48, s. 1986
Allotment: 1-3-4—(M.O. 1-87)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
AMENDMENT
AUTHORITY
COURSE OF STUDY, COLLEGIATE
RULES AND REGULATIONS
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES

DO_s1988_61