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University of Minnesota plans honorary degree for Prince

University of Minnesota plans honorary degree for Prince
Posted at 8:15 AM, Jun 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-10 08:43:22-04

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A posthumous honorary degree from the University of Minnesota is in the works for music legend 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.

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This story has been corrected to show the university's president is Eric Kaler, not Kahler.