NIU’s graduate school is now accepting applications for recipients of honorary doctorate degrees.

This program, which began at NIU in 1983, was formed to honor persons of any intellectual endeavor whose work or contributions are important to the university.

“The recipients must be especially noteworthy,” Graduate School Dean Jerrold Zar said. “Their work does not have to involve NIU, although most have thus far.”

A special university committee comprised of faculty, staff, students and a dean decides who will receive the degrees. “The committee contains a wide variety of people involved with the university and the judging is completely unbiased,” Zar said.

All nominations must be accompanied by supporting documents. These include an indication of the nominee’s field of work, a biographical outline and any published work or honors. Information outlining candidate requirements has been distributed to all departments.

Nominations may be turned in to the graduate school office in Altgeld Hall no later than Oct. 14.

Past recipients of honorary degrees from NIU include Leon Lederman, director of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory; Lawrence Cremin, president of Teacher’s College at Columbia University; Louis Bellson, drummer and benefactor to NIU’s School of Music; Cyril Houle, senior program consultant for the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and friend of the adult continuing education program at NIU; Samual Goldich, NIU geologist, now retired; and Harry A. Blackmun, associate justice of the U. S. Supreme Court.