Designated officer: Vice-Chancellor

Council approval: Council C99/21, 16 March 1999

Last amended: Council C05/32, 7 June 2005

Related policies:

• Academic Dress Policy

Overview

The conferral of honorary awards provides a special opportunity for the University of the Sunshine Coast to recognise persons of outstanding accomplishment.

As the only university headquartered in this region, we recognise that we have a special responsibility to acknowledge and honour persons of outstanding achievement who have significant ties to the Sunshine Coast region or its University, including those who have rendered distinguished service to the University as a Professor.

Thus, the University confers honorary awards in three categories:

1. Honorary Doctorate
2. Honorary Senior Fellow
3. Emeritus Professor.

All honorary awards will be made on the approval of Council.

Honorary Doctorates and Honorary Senior Fellowships are conferred at Graduation Ceremonies. The title of Emeritus Professor can be awarded outside of Graduation at the discretion of University Council.

Definitions

Honorary Doctorate
An Honorary Doctorate may be awarded to a person in recognition of excellence and extraordinary achievement in a significant area of human endeavour. The degree awarded may be either Honorary Doctor of the University (DUniv) or an honorary doctorate in a specific field.

Honorary Senior Fellow
An award of Honorary Senior Fellow may be made to a person in recognition of a significant and sustained contribution to the development of the University or of the Sunshine Coast region.

Emeritus Professor
An award of Emeritus Professor may be made to recognise a Professor of the University who has rendered distinguished academic service to the University. An award of Emeritus Professor may only be made where the recipient of the award has retired or resigned from the University.

Honorary Awards Committee

The University Council will determine the membership of the Honorary Awards Committee. The period of office of appointed members will be their term of office on Council. The Committee's role will be to seek and consider nominations for honorary awards, and to make recommendations to Council. The Committee will comprise:

• The Chancellor (Chair)
• The Vice-Chancellor
• The Deputy Vice-Chancellor
• Three members of Council

The Office of the Vice-Chancellor will provide secretarial and/or administrative support to the Honorary Awards Committee.

The Committee should attempt, in making its recommendations, to reflect the cultural diversity of our region and the international character and diversity of the University itself. It should also attempt to honour those whose outstanding contributions to their fields or to society have not yet been widely recognised.

The Committee will also take into account the academic specialisations of the University in considering nominations.

The nominations made to and deliberations of the Committee must be treated as strictly confidential.

Nominees

Honorary awards may not be made to candidates for political office in Australia, elected officials currently in office, current members of staff, or current members of University Council. Retired or former staff members must meet the same high standards for nomination as all other honorary award candidates.

Awards in absentia

The awards of Honorary Doctor or Honorary Senior Fellow will only be made in absentia in exceptional circumstances. Where an approved nominee cannot be physically present at the Graduation Ceremony for which the award was offered, the award might be made through the use of electronic media. Alternatively, the recommendation of the Honorary Awards Committee may be reactivated and reviewed annually.

Privileges

Holders of honorary awards shall be entitled to the following privileges:

• Participation in the University's academic procession
• Participation in special events such as those run through the University Foundation
• Receipt, at no charge, of University publications
• Listing in the University Handbook and
• Such other privileges as may be determined by the Vice-Chancellor from time to time.