# What are the ACTUAL, enumerated privileges of a university degree referenced at commencement? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 20, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-actual-enumerated-privileges-of-a-university-degree-referenced-at-commencement/619351 "2012-04-20T02:10:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-actual-enumerated-privileges-of-a-university-degree-referenced-at-commencement/619351/1 "2012-04-20T02:10:30Z")
Anyone who has been to a university commencement knows that the candidates are admitted to the “rights and privileges” (or similar wording) of the degree that they have been awarded. What, _specifically_, are those rights and privileges (your choice of school and jurisdiction)? I assume that one of them is to have your degree recognized by those that recognize the school or its accreditation agency. For example, if the State of New York recognizes your alma mater as valid and you have a BA degree from it, and New York requires a recognized bachelor’s degree to be hired as a police officer, then you arguably have a “right” to have your degree counted as fulfilling that qualification. Are there any other privileges, especially more interesting ones? If I write to my alumni office and request “An enumerated list of every right or privilege associated with a Bachelor of Arts in History degree awarded in June 2002”, what am I likely to get? Are there any cases where there are arguably arcane, interesting, or directly economically beneficial “perks” of a degree _above and beyond simply having it_? E.g.: Mary: “Where are we going to park?” John: “What about city square?” Mary: “Everyone knows you can’t park there for more than 15 minutes.” John: “Most people yes, but I have a PhD from the University of Michigan. One of the privileges of that degree is parking in City Square for up to 5 hours.” I know I have the “right” to receive alumni association solicitations every few months :). ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-actual-enumerated-privileges-of-a-university-degree-referenced-at-commencement/619351/2 "2012-04-20T02:35:42Z")
The main privilege is to be able to say that you graduated from that university with the specified degree. In fact, that’s about it. Oh, and the right to be hit up for donations every year for the rest of your life. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-actual-enumerated-privileges-of-a-university-degree-referenced-at-commencement/619351/3 "2012-04-20T02:59:42Z")
Yeah, not a lot. Depending on the school, you will generally get some alumni privileges. Those could range anywhere from discount insurance group rates to special ticket prices at future events. They are also obligated to store your transcripts and give references to future employers. I get an alumni magazine as well. My alumni office will track down classmates for you if you ever need them anything. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-actual-enumerated-privileges-of-a-university-degree-referenced-at-commencement/619351/4 "2012-04-20T15:59:21Z")
You may have alumni privileges to take books out of the library, use the university gym, eat at the Faculty club, get tickets for university events, etc. But the simple reality is that “rights and privileges” is just an older formal phrase of duplication similar to hundreds of other formal and legal phrases that have worked their way into the language. Cf. let and hindrance. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-actual-enumerated-privileges-of-a-university-degree-referenced-at-commencement/619351/5 "2012-04-20T16:06:39Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > I know I have the “right” to receive alumni association solicitations every few months :). that is a privilege. don’t forget you can buy a class ring. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-actual-enumerated-privileges-of-a-university-degree-referenced-at-commencement/619351/6 "2012-04-20T16:13:14Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > You may have alumni privileges to take books out of the library, use the university gym, eat at the Faculty club, get tickets for university events, etc. Louisiana State University is one that confers a considerable number of privileges like these to alumni. There are also a lot of subtle chip-in services alumni can use like resume writing assistance through the Career Center. For anyone that graduates from LSU and stays in town, you can make a lot of use of your alumni standing. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-actual-enumerated-privileges-of-a-university-degree-referenced-at-commencement/619351/7 "2012-04-20T16:16:00Z")
You have the right to wear the regalia of your school in official ceremonies like graduation. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-actual-enumerated-privileges-of-a-university-degree-referenced-at-commencement/619351/8 "2012-04-20T21:24:31Z")
When I got my PhD, I was told that I had the right to audit any course in the university free. At McGill, graduates get a lifetime email address.