Principles and Criteria
The University reserves the right to revoke an honorary degree from a recipient. The criteria for revocation may include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Findings of serious misconduct leading to the recipient being found guilty of a criminal offence.
- The recipient losing their professional accreditation by the relevant Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body, due to professional misconduct.
- The reasons for the initial conferral of the award have been found to be materially inaccurate.
- The individual being found to have acted in a manner contrary to the University’s guiding principles and mission as an institution.
- A continued association between this individual and the University posing a reputational risk to the institution.
In line with the University’s policy on Freedom of Speech, a difference in views or beliefs with members of the University community or stakeholders does not constitute grounds for honorary degree revocation.
Process
Any member of the University community may request the rescindment of an honorary degree. This should be submitted to the Chair of the Professorial Appointments and Honorary Degrees Committee, via [email protected].
Substantiated evidence must be submitted to the Committee to support the request for rescindment. Without this evidence, revocation requests will not be considered.
If on receipt of information, further investigation of evidence is deemed necessary to establish its veracity or any other pertinent details, this will be carried out by a delegated colleague and presented to the Professional Appointments and Honorary Degrees Committee for consideration.
The Professional Appointments and Honorary Degrees Committee will then consider the request for revocation and make a decision on the basis of the evidence submitted.
The decision of the Professional Appointments and Honorary Degrees Committee is final.
Outcome
If the decision to revoke an honorary degree has been made, then communications should be prepared accordingly by the University communications team, including those to the initial proposer of the revocation request and to the former honorary award holder.
Consideration should also be given as to whether the revocation of the award should be communicated with any other institutions or professional and statutory bodies who have a relationship with the former award holder.
Appropriate communications should be drafted and then sent with the approval of the Chair of the Professional Appointments and Honorary Degrees Committee.