How meaningful are the honorary doctorates that colleges hand out to commencement speakers and others every spring? Very, according to critics of Arizona State University’s decision not to award a degree to this year’s very-high-profile graduation speaker — President Obama.

The university says that, unlike most institutions, it has separate processes for inviting commencement speakers and choosing honorary-degree recipients, and that it gives degrees to recognize notable accomplishments, rather than to flatter speakers. Because Mr. Obama’s big accomplishments are probably ahead of him, the thinking apparently went, this wasn’t the right time to present him with a degree. In fact, Arizona State is not giving any honorary degrees at this year’s commencement.

The university’s critics, however, weren’t interested in any kind of nuanced explanation. “ASU Stiffs Obama,” said one headline in the Huffington Post. “An Arizona State University Honorary Degree for Erma Bombeck but Not President Obama,” said another. Comments on blogs were predictably ballistic.

On Saturday afternoon the university came up with a solution: It will rename its “most important scholarship program” in Mr. Obama’s honor, according to a statement from Arizona State’s president, Michael M. Crow, who also said the scholarship program would be “expanded,” though he offered no details about how.

“Although the focus and attention of the media and others has been on an honorary degree,” Mr. Crow said, “we never felt that was the only — or even the best — means of honoring his tremendous service to our country. Naming this scholarship program after President Obama that will affect the lives of thousands of students is an honor befitting, not only the president’s exceptional achievements, but also his values as an individual.” —Lawrence Biemiller