General Motors Chief Executive Barra to speak at University of Michigan commencement

5/3/2014

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — General Motors CEO Mary Barra will get an honorary degree when she speaks today at the University of Michigan’s commencement ceremony.

Barra is scheduled to talk in the morning as about 9,500 graduate, professional and undergraduate students get their diplomas. The university plans to give her an honorary doctor of engineering degree.

The Graduate Employees Organization and the Student Union have objected to Barra’s speech. GM faces multiple federal investigations because of the delayed recall of 2.6 million cars for faulty ignition switches linked to 13 deaths.

The ceremony is also the last for Mary Sue Coleman as university president. Coleman is retiring.