Former Member for Wagga Wagga Joe Schipp will receive a second major honour in as many weeks when he is awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of the University at Charles Sturt University during graduation celebrations today.

Just two weeks after receiving the city's highest honour - Freedom of the City of Wagga Wagga - the recently-retired Parliamentarian will now have the University's most prestigious award conferred upon him, at his own alma mater, the CSU Wagga Wagga Campus.

CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Cliff Blake will present the award to Mr Schipp this afternoon in recognition of the vital role he played in establishing this leading regional University.

Although born in Mudgee in 1932, Joseph John Schipp was raised and educated in Wagga Wagga, where he attended the local high school and graduated from the then Wagga Wagga Teachers' College as a primary school teacher.

During his 23 years as a Member of Parliament he played a prominent role for the Liberal Party, both in government and in opposition, and held a variety of appointments including Shadow Minister for Lands, Industrial Relations, Technology and Energy, Trade, Employment, Agriculture, Local Government, Lands, Forests, Fisheries and Housing.

In 1988 he was appointed Minister for Housing in the first Greiner Government and his last ministerial appointment was as Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing.

Professor Blake said Mr Schipp had devoted much of his life to serving the people of Wagga Wagga as their elected representative, and that of his many accomplishments the establishment of Charles Sturt University would stand as his most enduring achievement.

"Mr Schipp played a defining role in the decision to establish a freestanding university to service the central-west and south-west of New South Wales. That university is, of course, Charles Sturt University," he said.

Mr Schipp will receive his award in the second Wagga Wagga Campus graduation ceremony at Joyes Hall starting at 2.30 pm today, Wednesday 21 April.