Via Sapientiae Award

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Via Sapientiae Award is the highest award that DePaul can bestow upon a member of the university community. It recognizes both faculty and staff members who have made distinctive and extraordinary contributions to the university throughout their professional lives. Recipients must have contributed a minimum of 10 years of service to the university. Nominations are made at the time of retirement, or posthumously.

This award is conferred at the annual Academic Convocation in September.

Deans and Vice Presidents may submit nominations for eligible faculty and staff from their units at any time during the academic year, but only after the retirement decision has been confirmed by Human Resources. The deadline for nominations is June 15. Nominations submitted after the deadline will be reviewed and, if approved, the award will be bestowed at the Academic Convocation the following year, unless special circumstances warrant a more immediate, ad-hoc presentation as requested by the respective Dean or Vice President.

Nomination letters should describe the “distinctive and extraordinary contributions” of the faculty or staff member.

Nomination letters are submitted to the Office of the President for consideration.

If approved, the honoree will be notified by the Office of the President. The nominator will also receive notice.

Deans and Vice Presidents can submit posthumous nominations upon the passing of an eligible employee. If approved by the president, University Marketing and Communication will work with the nominator to provide a quick turnaround if the award is to be presented at an imminent wake, funeral or memorial service. If the family wishes, the award can be conferred at the next Academic Convocation.

Past Recipients