University won't award Obama degree By: Andy Barr April 9, 2009 07:12 PM EST Arizona State University will not award President Barack Obama an honorary degree when he speaks at commencement on May 13. The university decided against awarding Obama the degree because it is customarily awarded for “lifetime achievement,” ASU spokeswoman Sharon Keeler told POLITICO. “It’s normally awarded to someone who has been in their field for some time,” she said. “Considering that the president is at the beginning of his presidency, his body of work is just beginning.”