University of Minnesota to award honorary degree to Prince

On June 10 the University of Minnesota Board of Regents voted to honor the late Minneapolis-born musical icon Prince with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the College of Liberal Arts. The U of M was reportedly in the process of honoring Prince prior to his passing April 16, 2016. Members of his family will be presented with the honor at a later date, according to the news release.

“Prince was transformational in American music and culture, and we are extremely proud of his many accomplishments, as well as his efforts to give back to his home state, a legacy we hope to continue,” said University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler in a statement.

“He changed the world’s view of what it meant to be Minnesotan,” says Michael Kim, Director of the University of Minnesota’s School of Music. “He demonstrated that far from provincial and unassuming, Minnesota’s creative talents were cutting-edge and brilliant. I can think of no better way to express the University’s esteem for one of Minnesota’s own sons, and one of the most talented and influential performing artists of all time.”

The honorary degree is the highest award conferred by the University of Minnesota.

Information in this story was provided by the University of Minnesota.