Honorariums can be paid by Check Request, while speaker fees (and other payments commonly confused with honorariums) require a purchase order.

An honorarium is a payment that is granted in recognition of a special service or distinguished achievement for which custom or propriety forbids any fixed business price be set.

An honorarium is provided as a token of appreciation for participation in an activity or event, and not as a contractual obligation to pay for services rendered. An honorarium cannot be used as a payment for specified services rendered by an independent contractor or employee.

The types of activities for which honorarium payments may be made include:

• Special lecture or short series of lectures
   
• Participation in a seminar or workshop as a guest speaker or panelist, provided such services are furnished on a short-term basis
   
• Speaking engagement

Non-honorarium transactions include:

• Performance fees for speakers sponsored by a nonacademic organization
   
• Independent consultant payment
   
• Independent contractor payment

Generally, honoraria are paid to persons of scholarly or professional standing in conjunction with an academic activity.
If you have any questions about whether a payment may be considered an honorarium, please contact Sara Thorndike at ext. 3103 or Purchasing at ext. 3110.