C'mon, it's so sweet

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Kizmet, Apr 8, 2016.

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  1. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  2. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    An honorary associate's degree.
     
  3. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I think the school did a really nice thing, here. And I'm glad it greatly pleased a lady who is 102 years old.

    J.
     
  4. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Oh good, you read it!
     
  5. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    Very touching.
     
  6. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    yes, very nice.

    I'm always so surprised at how many people I meet in real life that stop short of a degree with only "a few" credits left. A good friend was 3 credits short of his BA - yep, that's one class. A long time high school friend left with 1 semester remaining. Lots of my culinary students leave in their final semester.
     
  7. AV8R

    AV8R Active Member

    Good for her!
     
  8. sideman

    sideman Well Known Member

    Against all odds she makes it to 102. Then she's conferred her associates degree. That's the cherry on the sundae.
     
  9. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    The degree was to be officially awarded on May 14, but sadly, Mrs. Boarman died yesterday.
     
  10. sideman

    sideman Well Known Member

    Indeed sorry to hear this. I understand the school wanting to wait until May 14 to coincide with formal grad ceremonies, but the lady is 102 yrs. old. Time is of the essence! But regardless, it was a nice touch and a final farewell.
     
  11. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Hopefully the knowledge that it had been decided, it was general knowledge, it was going to happen, gave her a few happy moments before her death because in the end that was the whole purpose.
     
  12. LearningAddict

    LearningAddict Well-Known Member

    Sometimes, a life circumstance causes it. But, there are lots of people who simply aren't good at finishing what they start, and some that are just fearful of success at the subconscious level. But I can only understand the very latter from textbooks and from people I've observed over the years, because I can't imagine not trying to be successful at whatever I do.
     
  13. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Why bother with honorary? It's not like a 102 year-old woman is going to start a fake school, or try to get a faculty position on the strength of a real Associate's degree.
     
  14. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Just barely possibly that the school didn't want to risk any flak from its accreditor over awarding the degree despite missing requirements. More likely, because honorary degrees have a certain cachet - after all, they're meant to bestow honour on the recipient. I'm sure of one thing -- it wasn't done with any thought of deterring abuse of the degree. As you correctly state, Bruce - just not in the picture.

    J.
     
  15. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Or an honorary doctorate. The school doesn't have to be in the business of awarding earned doctorates in order to award an honorary one.
     
  16. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    My point was, why not just award her an actual Associate's degree? The story said that she was close anyway, so just award the remaining credits based on life experience (she certainly had that), and it's an even more feel-good story. As Rich noted, if it's honorary anyway, why not go for the honorary doctorate?

    There was a Massachusetts State Trooper who was shot & killed during his final year at the New England School of Law, and in addition to funding a scholarship in his name and naming a building for him, they also awarded him a Juris Doctor (not honorary) posthumously, with the family getting the diploma. I realize that posthumously is a bit different, but at 102 years old, you're well into the back nine at that point.
     
  17. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Yesterday was the anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. For the first time, there were no survivors at the ceremony; the last one died at 110 a few months ago. The city designated a few people (friends, relatives) as "honorary survivors" which is really pretty silly, I think.

    (The last survivor was a charmingly acerbic chap. One year, when a reporter asked him what he remembered of the quake, he replied something like, "I was three months old, you numbskull. What do you think I remember.")
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 17, 2016

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