Policy

Honorary Awards - Policy

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1.0    Purpose and Scope

Purpose

UQ’s Honorary Awards are intended to publicly recognise exceptional achievements or contributions by outstanding individuals, whom – through their careers or personal endeavours – have made a unique and lasting contribution to the University, State of Queensland, or to Australia.

In recognition of the University’s commitment to diversity in its many forms, Honorary Awards recognise individuals who reflect the diversity of our global community, and who, collectively, represent the mission, values and aspirations of the University.

Scope

This policy outlines the eligibility and high-level governance of Honorary Awards at UQ.

2.0    Principles and Key Requirements

Types of Honorary Awards

Honorary Awards represent the University’s highest honours. Honorary Awards that may be conferred by Senate are:

  • Honorary Doctorate in any discipline in which a doctorate is offered by the University

  • Honorary Doctorate of the University

  • UQ R.H. Roe Award

There is no expectation or requirement that any awards be made each year.

Eligibility

Eligibility for Honorary Awards are summarised in the table below:

The Chancellor may recommend to Senate that an Honorary Award is granted posthumously.

Criteria

Honorary Doctorate in a particular discipline

  • Exceptional service to a professional or academic discipline or field of endeavour; and

  • Exceptional contribution to the enrichment of our communities within the State, Commonwealth of Australia, or internationally (whether or not directly associated with The University of Queensland).

Honorary Doctorate of the University

  • Exceptional service or contributions which align with the mission, values and aspirations of the University; and

  • Exceptional contribution to the enrichment of our communities within the State, Commonwealth of Australia, or internationally (whether or not directly associated with The University of Queensland).

UQ R.H. Roe Award

  • Outstanding service or contribution to the University, beyond the normal requirements of a position or affiliation with the University; and

  • Outstanding contribution to meaningfully enhancing the University’s reputation, mission and objectives, usually over a sustained period of time.

Nominations

Nominations may be submitted by:

  • Senate members;

  • Alumni of the University;

  • Members of University Senior Executive Team;

  • Staff (academic and professional); or

  • Students (with the endorsement of a member of one of the above categories).

Self-nominations are not accepted.

Nominations will be treated with the highest confidentially. A nominee will not be advised of or consulted about their nomination at any stage prior to formal notification via the Vice-Chancellor.

Process

The process for the nomination and consideration of honorary awards is set out in the Procedure.

Revocation and surrender of awards

To maintain the integrity of UQ’s Honorary Awards and uphold the reputation of the University, Senate may, at its sole discretion, revoke an Honorary Award if, in its view:

  • The recipient has engaged in activities which prejudices the reputation of the University; or

  • The recipient’s continued association with the University would prejudice the reputation of the University.

A recipient of an honorary award may surrender the award by giving written notice to the Vice-Chancellor.

3.0     Roles, Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Senate

Senate is responsible for approving or revoking Honorary Awards, on the recommendation of the Honorary Awards Committee.

Senate Honorary Awards Committee

Considering nominations, and making recommendations to the Senate regarding the granting of Honorary Awards.

University Senior Executive Team

Considering nominations for Honorary Awards and making recommendations to the Senate Honorary Awards Committee.

Office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Advancement & Community Engagement)

Overseeing the implementation of this policy, providing secretariat services to the Senate Honorary Awards Committee, coordinating all communications in relation to the conferral of Honorary Awards, and supporting campus partners to meaningfully sustain relationships with recipients.

4.0     Monitoring, Review and Assurance

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Advancement & Community Engagement) is responsible for the ongoing implementation and review of this Policy.

5.0     Recording and Reporting

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Advancement & Community Engagement) is responsible for recording and reporting on the granting, revoking, and surrender of honorary awards, and for provision of secretariat services to the Senate Honorary Awards Committee.

Custodians
Vice-President (Advancement and Community Engagement) Ms Jen Karlson

Procedures

Honorary Awards - Procedures

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1.0    Purpose and Scope

This procedure details the process for the nomination, selection, and presentation of Honorary Awards. It does not apply to alumni awards and internal staff recognition awards.

2.0    Process and Key Controls

Nomination

  • Members of the University Senior Leadership Group (USLG), University Senior Executive Team (USET), and Senate Honorary Awards Committee (SHAC) may proactively identify and submit nominations throughout the course of each year.

  • Nominations will also be sought from the University community twice annually, timed such that a Senate resolution to award an Honorary Award aligns with graduation ceremonies.

  • All nominations will be submitted directly to the SHAC Secretariat.

  • Nominations will be treated with the highest confidentially. A nominee will not be advised of or consulted about their nomination at any stage prior to formal notification via the Vice-Chancellor of their successful nomination.

Deliberation

Twice annually, the Senate Honorary Awards Secretariat will:

  • undertake an initial review of nominations to ensure all relevant criteria have been addressed and supporting documentation has been provided; they may request additional information as required.

  • submit eligible nominations to the relevant governance bodies in the following order:

    • USET to review and consider nominations and provide recommendations and commentary, including ranked order if appropriate, to SHAC.

    • SHAC to consider USET supported nominations and provide recommendations to Senate.  (Nominations not supported by USET will be provided to SHAC for transparency).

    • Senate for final review, consideration and decision.

The University Senior Executive Team will:

  • review nominations with regard to:

    • the criteria outlined in the Honorary Awards Policy;

    • similar recognition previously bestowed upon - or more appropriate to - the nominee;

    • opportunities to strengthen strategic relationships with our community; and

    • opportunities to celebrate the values and aspirations of the University.

  • make recommendations on the nominations to SHAC.

The Senate Honorary Awards Committee will:

  • consider the USET recommendations as outlined above;

  • ensure due diligence processes and risk mitigation have been evaluated; and

  • submit recommendations to Senate regarding the granting of Honorary Awards for consideration by Senate.

Senate will:

  • review and decide which nominations to approve; and

  • approve that the Vice-Chancellor invite approved nominees to accept Honorary Awards.

Notification of decision

  • The Vice-Chancellor will write to the successful nominee(s) advising of Senate’s decision and invite the recipient to accept the Award. Should a nominee be unresponsive after best efforts have been made to contact them regarding the acceptance of the award, the matter will be referred to the Chair of the SHAC for consideration.

  • The Chair of SHAC may make a recommendation to the Senate that the offer of conferral should lapse if the nominee has not responded within two (2) years.

  • Senate will decide whether the offer of conferral should lapse and if so, when that takes effect.

  • Where the nominee declines the award offered, the University will make note of this decision and notify SHAC.

  • Where a nomination is not supported by Senate, the SHAC Secretariat will advise the nominator of the outcome.

Presentation

  • Honorary Awards will be conferred / awarded at a UQ graduation ceremony in accordance with the University policies and procedures relating to student progression and graduation. Honorary Award recipients will customarily be invited to address the graduating cohort.

  • In exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the Chancellor, an Honorary Award may be presented at another appropriate University event, including via online communications.

  • When deemed appropriate by the Vice-Chancellor, reasonable travel and accommodation costs for the recipient and one other person to attend the graduation ceremony or event at which the award is to be presented will be met by the University.   

3.0    Key Requirements

Period of award

Honorary Awards are conferred / awarded in perpetuity, unless revoked or surrendered.

Use of Honorary Awards Titles

The following applies to Honorary Award recipients:

  • An Honorary Doctorate is not a qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework; therefore the conferral of an Honorary Doctorate does not entitle the recipient to use the title ‘Doctor’ or ‘Dr’.

  • Honorary Doctorates may be referenced using the Latin phrase ‘honoris causa’, for example, ‘Doctor of Science honoris causa’.

  • Recipients of Honorary Doctorates are entitled to use the relevant post-nominal for all correspondence and cite the official award abbreviation after their name. For Honorary Doctorates awarded in a particular discipline, the postnominal is preceded by ‘Hon.D’, for example, Hon.DSc Univ Qld. The postnominal for a Doctor of University is Hon.D Univ Qld.

4.0     Roles, Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Senate

Senate is responsible for approving Honorary Awards on the recommendation of the Senate Honorary Awards Committee.

Senate Honorary Awards Committee

Considering nominations and making recommendations to the Senate regarding the granting of Honorary Awards.

University Senior Executive Team

Considering nominations for Honorary Awards and making recommendations to the Senate Honorary Awards Committee.

Office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Advancement & Community Engagement)

Overseeing the implementation of this procedure, providing secretariat services to the Senate Honorary Awards Committee, coordinating all communications in relation to the conferral of Honorary Awards, and supporting campus partners to meaningfully sustain relationships with recipients.

Events (Advancement & Community Engagement) and Student Progression

Coordinating the presentation of Honorary Awards at UQ graduation ceremonies, or out of session.

5.0    Monitoring, Review and Assurance

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Advancement & Community Engagement) is responsible for the ongoing implementation and review of this procedure.

6.0     Recording and Reporting

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Advancement & Community Engagement) is responsible for recording and reporting on the granting, revoking and surrender of honorary awards, and for provision of secretariat services to the Senate Honorary Awards Committee.

Custodians
Vice-President (Advancement and Community Engagement) Ms Jen Karlson
Custodians
Vice-President (Advancement and Community Engagement) Ms Jen Karlson