The president of the Universidad Libre de Puerto Rico y El Caribe, Inc., is the only official authorized to extend an invitation to submit a curriculum vitae (CV) leading to membership in the university’s Ad Honorem Doctoral Faculty. Membership is by invitation only.
After you are registered, you may send your curriculum vitae for evaluation and determination. Please include: (a) your full name and address (b) education & trainings (c) job experience (d) volunteer work performed (e) list of any certificates received (f) titles and dates of any published work (g) recognitions and/or honors received (h) others.
The president invites for membership of the list he owns of those who have already earned and obtained a doctorate from the university or who have been validated by the Board of Directors of the university if their doctorate was awarded by another institution. However, it is a requirement that every professional member of the Ad Honorem Doctoral Faculty has been invested with an ad honorem doctorate from our university and is over 38 years old.
University Advisory Board
All the members of the faculty form at the same time the University Advisory Board, which collaborates with the president in the elaboration of policies of administration of the university. This Board does not establish policies, nor does it meet to vote on them, but freely and voluntarily express their individual recommendation to the president.
All members of the faculty hold an honorary doctoral degree awarded by this university. Any member of the faculty may recommend to the President someone qualified to be part of the faculty, but only the President may extend the invitation to submit his CV to the doctoral program for an evaluation and application for the honorary degree.
An academic doctoral degree from another institution is validated by a Letter of Validation from our university. Professionals applying from our university for an honorary degree must previously have an academic degree, be over 38 years old and submit a professional summary (CV) for approval. They can be admitted to the Ad Honorem Doctoral Faculty, at the invitation of the president. This candidate, admitted to the Ad Honorem Faculty, is required to contribute $200 in donation to our institution.
Prior consultation of the President
The president, before extending an invitation, shall consult with the Board of Directors of the International Reform Church of which the university is a subsidiary. The invitation implies that the guest possesses a doctoral degree. For your ad honorem doctorate with our university, you must submit your curriculum vitae for evaluation, and if approved by a joint credential committee represented by the Church Board of Directors and the University’s Governing Body, under the direction of its president, the degree will be awarded, after fulfilling its financial share.
Degrees under Consideration:
Doctor of Divinity*– D.D.
Note that all honorary doctorates must be followed by the acronym in parentheses (Hon) whenever it accompanies the name of the person to whom it was awarded. This determination has been adopted in order to warn the general public that it is not an academic degree. Several States have this requirement in their educational laws and therefore we require this requirement in all members of the faculty.
Exemption for (Hon)
The degree of Doctor of Divinity has been considered by the ecclesiastical community as an honorific, non-academic degree, therefore, it is exempt from the above requirement, unless the law of the State where said degree is granted or the States where it is written, specifically require the designation of (Hon).
This degree in Divinity has been reserved by this university for legitimately ordained persons, holders of a Certificate of Ordination. In this regard, qualified non-ordained ministers can obtain their ordination from the Reformist International Church and qualify for the degree.
Non-ordained candidates applying for an ad honorem doctoral degree (except the degree in Divinity) must meet the prerequisites that are: (1) have a minimum of 38 years (2) submit for evaluation their curriculum vitae (CV) and (3) have been approved by our university for the doctorate ad honorem.
Faculty Membership Requirement for 12 months minimum
Those who do not intend to belong to the Faculty for a term of 12 months are not considered candidates to be members of the Faculty.
Withdrawal of Voluntary Membership
However, every member of the Faculty retains his right to withdraw his membership after 12 months, for cause or without cause.
Relationship of the Ad Honorem Doctoral Faculty and the Community of the Caribbean Peoples
The Community of Caribbean Peoples is a project of Universidad Libre de Puerto Rico y El Caribe, Inc. This community is committed to the preservation of the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations (UN). Any member of the Faculty is free to belong to or participate in its educational activities, as the community is not political or religious in any sense.
The president may withdraw the Membership of any member of the Ad Honorem Doctoral Faculty, for cause or without cause, since their services are “At Will.” However, the president consults the opinion of other members of the University Advisory Board.
Every member of the Doctoral Faculty is expected to act with a high sense of ethics and social responsibility and continue their legitimate activities towards the betterment of humanity. Therefore, if the member deviates from this path and his activities contradict the principles of ethics and respect for legitimately established institutions, the university reserves the right to terminate his membership.
Regular Procedure for the Evaluation of Honorary Degrees
(1) You must first express your interest by using the Contact Form by writing your full name and requesting an invoice for $45.00 USD as a registration donation. You will receive the invoice through PayPal. We cannot take any action on your application until we receive payment for your registration.
(2) After registering, you can submit your life resume (CV) for evaluation and determination. Please include: (a) your full name and address (b) education and training (c) work experience (d) volunteer work performed (e) list of certificates received (f) titles and dates of any published work (g) recognitions and/or honors received (h) others.
For more information about the university write to:
IGLESIA INTERNACIONAL REFORMISTA, A NJ Nonprofit Corporation, Office of the Rectory, P.O. Box 3015, Camden, NJ 08101.
REFERENCES: Government of Puerto Rico, Department of State, Calle San José, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
Revised and Modified: 02 APRIL 2023