Honors and Awards

This award recognizes a member representative who has made a significantly innovative contribution to NACUA or provided outstanding service to the association and to the practice of higher education law, and who has been a member of NACUA for ten or fewer years. Contributions might include, but are not limited to, participation in NACUA educational programs as a speaker or moderator; contributions to NACUA’s publications program or legal resources library; and/or service on NACUA committees, task forces, and work groups, or a singular innovation that significantly advances NACUA’s ability to achieve its mission. 

This membership category is granted after an individual’s retirement from the regular practice of higher education law (or similar end of regular representative status), in recognition of outstanding service and substantial contributions to the association. 

Established by the association to recognize individuals who have given extraordinary service both to NACUA and to institutions of higher learning over an extended period of time, whether in legal or other capacities (for example, as members of governing boards). Recipients have made outstanding contributions to the work of the association, and to its recognition in the legal and educational professions. 

Initiated in 1987-88, the Fellow Award recognizes a current NACUA member for outstanding and extensive scholarship in higher education law over an extended period, for the benefit of NACUA member colleges and universities.

Conferred upon persons who have made substantial contributions through NACUA to the understanding of legal issues affecting colleges and universities, whether or not the persons so honored are members of the bar. Honorary memberships have been conferred to a person who has made uniquely valuable contributions both to the understanding of legal issues in higher education and to the continuing life and development of the association.