University of Minnesota Plans Honorary Degree For Prince

The university’s regents are set to vote Friday on bestowing an honorary degree from the College of Liberal Arts to Prince Rogers Nelson, who made his home in Minnesota.

University president, Eric Kaler, said in a statement that the process for awarding the degree to Prince began even before his April 21 death. Kaler says an honorary degree is awarded to an individual who has “achieved acknowledged eminence in cultural affairs, in public service, or in a field of knowledge and scholarship.”

He says Prince’s life and contributions in each of those categories is celebrated by people around the world.

Prince died from an accidental overdose of the narcotic painkiller fentanyl.