This policy establishes the principles and procedures by which °®¶ą´«Ă˝app may rescind an honorary degree previously conferred, ensuring that the honour reflects the University’s values and reputation.
Details
Purpose
This policy establishes the principles and procedures by which °®¶ą´«Ă˝app may rescind an honorary degree previously conferred, ensuring that the honour reflects the University’s values and reputation.
Guiding Principles
The Senate of °®¶ą´«Ă˝app awards honorary degrees to individuals who are nationally or internationally recognized within their fields. The criteria and procedures for the awarding of Honorary Degrees are set out in the Terms of Reference for the Honorary Degrees Committee and are subject to revision.
Revocation of an honorary degree is reserved for exceptional cases where the recipient’s conduct is fundamentally at odds with the University’s mission, values, reputation, or which cause an extraordinary risk to the University.
Decisions to rescind honorary degrees are made with fairness, transparency, and due process.
Mere controversy or disagreement with a recipient’s views does not constitute grounds for revocation. In considering grounds for revocation, judgement of historical actions should take account of the norms and knowledge of the time, rather than be based solely on present-day standards.
Revocations will only be made in cases where an honorary degree recipient is still alive.
Criteria for Revocation
The criteria for revocation of an Honorary Degree are associated with situations in which the recipient’s actions or legacy are or have become demonstrably harmful to the University’s reputation or contrary to its core values. These shall include any of the following:
Engagement in serious ethical or legal misconduct (e.g., criminal conviction, human rights abuses, professional fraud).; or
Misrepresentation of identity, credentials, or achievements.; or
Any other harmful action deemed by the Senate of °®¶ą´«Ă˝app to warrant revocation.
Decision Making Authority
The authority to rescind an honorary degree rests with the University Senate, in consultation with the Board of Regents, upon recommendation from the Honorary Degrees Committee (the Committee).
Review and Amendment
This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure alignment with evolving best practices and University values.
Relevant Related Policies
Policy 7220: Gift Acceptance Policy
This policy draws on the frameworks and examples from Carleton, McGill, Toronto, Concordia, Queen’s, and Regina universities.
Procedures
Initiation
A written request to consider revocation may be submitted by any member of the University community (an employee, a current student, an alumnus, a Senator, or a Regent) or may be initiated by the Honorary Degree Committee itself.
The Committee will conduct a preliminary review to determine if the request merits consideration, as per article 3 above “Criteria for Revocation”.
Should the request not merit further consideration, this decision is final, and the Chair of the Honorary Degrees Committee will inform the initiator(s) of the request in writing within 10 business days of the date upon which the Committee made its decision.
Investigation
If warranted, the Committee will convene an ad hoc subcommittee, comprised of its own members, to conduct a confidential and thorough investigation.
The subcommittee may make use of external firms or investigatory services if deemed appropriate.
The recipient will be notified and given an opportunity to respond or provide relevant information.
Deliberation
The subcommittee will report its findings to the Honorary Degrees Committee, which will deliberate in camera.
The Chair of the Honorary Degrees Committee shall consult the Board of Regents in camera and provide a summary of any advice to the Committee before a recommendation is made to Senate.
The Committee will make a recommendation to the Senate on whether an honorary degree should be rescinded and will include a summary of the information and advice that influenced its recommendation.
Senate Decision
The Senate will consider the recommendation, in camera, and vote on whether to rescind the honorary degree.
A supermajority of 2/3 of Senators in attendance at the voting meeting, which shall require Senate’s rules of quorum, shall be required for an honorary degree to be rescinded. The vote shall be conducted by secret ballot, overseen by the Secretary of Senate. The resulting vote shall constitute a final decision.
Implementation
If rescinded, the University will update its records and may issue a public statement outlining the rationale and/or remove the individual’s name from honours lists. The University may also take other appropriate action that relates to the use of the individual’s name as related to the University, including actions in accordance with Policy 7220: Gift Acceptance Policy.
In cases where revocation is not approved, the University, with approval of a majority vote by Senate, may opt to issue a contextual statement acknowledging concerns about the recipient’s legacy.
Safeguards
All proceedings will be conducted with strict confidentiality and respect for natural justice.
Stakeholder consultation may be undertaken as appropriate, especially if the case involves equity-deserving or affected individuals/groups/communities.