Money comes and goes, but if you get an Honorary Degree attached, that stays with you until the end of your days. There are certainly speakers who are brought in because there is a hope that they have a particular interest in a program that will be initiated or is ongoing at the university. The university is honoring them because of the shared interest and hoping they will be donating to the university in the future. Many cases were Commencement Speakers and Honorary Degrees are targeted to people of means in the hope they will work with the university in building some particular program. Typically, they will not be offered any fee at all. The University Needs their money. Carey nelson is former president of the American Association of University Professors and he serves as an english professor at the university of illinois and our viewers can find out more at your website. I also think once you have announced the commencement speaker, withdrawing it is an act of cowardice. That has ha