Corpora now requires all laurels to hold PhD, ABD required for polling

BARONY OF DARKWOOD, THE WEST: In an unsurprising twist, the Board of Directors has reworked the requirements in Corpora for elevation to the Order of the Laurel. All new members must hold a PhD in history, art history, anthropology, or a related field. In addition, official transcripts must be submitted to the Order prior to elevation. Candidates must have at least ABD (All But Dissertation) standing prior to polling.

“This is absurd,” said Baroness Rhodmilla de Ghent, “I only have a Master’s degree, but twenty years of experience in the Society. Doesn’t that count for something?”

The new requirements come as standards in order to receive the accolade continue to rise. “It’s important that we continue to raise the bar,” said Society President Hadrian the Scholar. “With more and more people receiving graduate degrees today, now is our chance to really engage with the academic community and uphold our values as an educational organization.”

“I mean, what are Laurels but adjuncts anyway?” said Pennsic University Dean Magnifica Sofonisba Franco. “It’s time we hold ourselves to the same standards as real institutions. Including not paying them. We are all volunteers, after all.”

Laurels without the appropriate degrees will retain their peerages/positions on a legacy basis. Tenure track peerages are unavailable and contracts will be reviewed annually.