On February 1, 2012, Owen Glenn was conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws. The ceremony was held at the Maidment Theatre in Auckland and was attended by university academics, family, friends and supporters of the prominent businessman and founder of the Glenn Family Foundation.
In awarding him the degree, the University Council recognised Owen's long standing commitment to New Zealand education and innovation and the many and valued contributions that Owen has made to the University over the years, in particular to the Business School and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
In 2002, Owen Glenn donated NZ$7.5 million to the Business School for the development of premises and facilities, a gift believed to be the largest private donation in New Zealand educational history. Continuing his support of tertiary education in New Zealand, he established the Barry Spicer and Owen G Glenn PhD scholarships, and has financially supported professorial chairs in Marine Science and Molecular Cancer.