U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy is scheduled to receive an honorary degree from Harvard University on Dec. 1, the Harvard Crimson reports.

Harvard was originally scheduled to give Kennedy, Hyannis Port Democrat, the degree at its graduation ceremony last spring but was unable to because of Kennedy's illness. Kennedy suffered a seizure in May and underwent surgery shortly thereafter to remove a malignant brain tumor.

"Sen. Kennedy has been one of the most tireless advocates for education, and specifically higher education, and we are very much looking forward to the opportunity to present him with an honorary degree," John D. Longbrake, a spokesman for Harvard, told the Crimson.

In 1998, Nelson Mandela was the last person to receive a degree in a ceremony outside the traditional graduation events. The only other two individuals to receive degrees in separate ceremonies were Winston Churchill and George Washington, according to the Crimson.

Kennedy graduated from Harvard in 1956.