This procedure describes the process through which the University will receive nominations and confer honorary awards of: Honorary Doctorate, Fellow of the University, and Emeritus Professor.

The Honorary Doctorate is the highest recognition the University can bestow. Nominations for the award of Honorary Doctorate may be for any person distinguished by eminence in public service or cultural achievement or in service to the University or its communities. Honorary degrees will only be awarded in recognition and celebration of eminent achievement at the highest levels.

The award of Fellow of the University Award will be limited in number and is conferred in recognition and celebration of distinguished service to the University at the highest level. For service to be considered as distinguished, the service must be well beyond the normal expectations of the person’s former role or association with the University.

The honorary title of Emeritus Professor is prestigious and awarded to honour any former Professor of the University who has made a distinguishing contribution to teaching, research, scholarship, the arts or with outstanding service to the University.

Scope

This procedure applies to all members of the University community.

Current elected representatives in government in Australia at Local, State and Federal level and current staff, students or members of committees of the University or persons being remunerated by the University are not eligible to be awarded an honorary doctorate or appointed as Fellows of the University.

Legislative Context

Federation University Australia Act 2010
Federation University Australia Statute 2021
- Part 8 - Awards, Titles and Honorary Degrees
Federation University Australia AcademicRegulations 2022
- Part 4 - Academic Dress

Definitions

A complete list of definitions relevant to this procedure is contained within the University Awards Procedure.

Actions

1. Nominations

	ACTIVITY	RESPONSIBILITY	STEPS
A.	Receipt of nominations or potential nominees	Council Secretariat	Names for consideration for nomination are received by the Council Secretariat and passed to the Vice-Chancellor and Chancellor for potential Nomination Formal Nominations under B progress to Review after scrutiny by the Council Secretariat to ensure eligibility. Note: nominations for current members of University Council, current members of Parliament, or current members of local council will not be considered. Applicants cannot nominate themselves for an Honorary Award.
B.	Nominating a candidate	The Chancellor/Vice-Chancellor/other Member of Council or on the recommendation of Academic Board or the Professoriate	A nomination of candidate may be made to the Secretary to Council which: indicates the grounds on which the nomination should be considered is accompanied by supporting documentation including relevant biographical information about the nominee if possible contains evidence-based material Nominations, at all stages of the process, will be treated with the strictest confidence the nominee must not be approached personally about their nomination

2. Reviewing, selecting and shortlisting nominations

	ACTIVITY	RESPONSIBILITY	STEPS
A.	Reviewing nominations	Governance & Strategy Committee and Secretariat	All nominations received by the Secretary to Councilwill be considered An initial review will consider nominees against the award criteria and any other requirements detailed in the Statute and this procedure Further information may be sought about a nominee, if necessary Consider due diligence and risk assessment processes which may include: Contacting referees listed by the nominator Reviewing the nominee’s media and social media coverage other levels of scrutiny, as required Prepare a preliminary recommendation/report for Council
B	Considering recommendation/s	Council	Within an ‘in camera’ session, consider the recommendations of the Governance & Strategy Committee
C.	Resolving to approve	Council	Resolve to approve the nominations it wishes to award, provisional upon confirmation of the willingness of the nominee to accept the award

3. Notifying of decision

	ACTIVITY	RESPONSIBILITY	STEPS
A.	Notifying successful nominee/s	Council Secretary	Take necessary steps to contact the successful nominee/s Ascertain nominee/s willingness to accept the award offered Formalise the communication by letter signed by the Vice-Chancellor
B.	Disclosing the outcome	Vice-Chancellor	After confirmation by the successful nominees of their acceptance, a decision will be made regarding the timing of the disclosure of the outcome

4. Accepting an award

	ACTIVITY	RESPONSIBILITY	STEPS
A.	Willing to accept the offer	Nominee	The offer of the award is formally accepted
B.	Unwilling to accept the offer	Nominee	The offer of the award will lapse if: the nominee is not willing to accept the award; or the nominee has not responded to the formal communication within six months of the letter being sent
C.	Advising others	Council Secretary	Advise Council of the outcome Liaise with award recipient regarding attendance and number of guests (including VIP seating), etc, and advice graduation office. Provide gown measurements for Honorary Doctorate recipients to graduation office no less than 6 weeks prior to ceremony to ensure sufficient time for gown to be made. Advise appropriate staff of the University, including: Public relations Media and communications Ceremonies/graduations staff

5. Presenting awards

	ACTIVITY	RESPONSIBILITY	STEPS
A.	Conferring the award	Council	The awardee/s will be presented at an appropriate University Graduation Ceremony, unless exceptional circumstances require alternate arrangements to be made When deemed appropriate, reasonable travel and accommodation costs may be covered Awards may be conferred in the absence of the candidate or posthumously by specific resolution of the Council Honorary doctorate awards will normally be conferred in perpetuity
B.	Waiving fees	Council Secretary/Finance	No fees will be payable for admission to any honorary degree

6. Selecting academic dress

ACTIVITY

RESPONSIBILITY

STEPS

Sourcing appropriate dress

Award recipients

1. Honorary doctorates

Academic dress is a maroon bonnet with gold silk cord and tassel and an Oxford style gown of maroon light weight woollen cloth with gold satin facing and sleeves and a maroon wool cloth hood lined with gold satin

2. Fellows of the University

Academic dress as per Honorary Doctorate gown and bonnet without hood

4. Emeritus Professors

Academic dress of highest degree

7. Creating and presenting citations and testamurs

	ACTIVITY	RESPONSIBILITY	STEPS
A.	Creating citation for: - Honorary Doctorate - Fellow of the University - Emeritus Professor	Vice-Chancellor’s Office Vice-Chancellor or nominee	Prepare citation/s Deliver citation/s at Graduation Ceremony and present to the recipient/s
B.	Printing and providing testamurs Honorary Doctorate - Fellow of the University - Emeritus Professor	Graduation Office University Registrar Council Secretariat	Print and provide testamurs/certificates (Graduation Stage) (see supporting form) Collect and provide testamur/certificates to Chancellor to present to recipient/s Provide extract from Council Minutes with full name of recipient and citation to graduation office to be printed.
C.	Wording for testamurs of: - Honorary Doctor - Fellow of the University - Emeritus Professor	Council Secretary on the Advice of Council

8. Accessing entitlements and privileges

	ACTIVITY	RESPONSIBILITY	STEPS
A.	Attending functions	Recipient	Recipients of Honorary Awardswill be invited to Graduation Ceremonies and other important University occasions as appropriate
B.	Using the relevant title	Recipient	Recipients of Honorary Doctorates are entitled to use the relevant title (honoris causa) in all situations and for all correspondence and cite the official award abbreviation after their name, as long as the title remains valid eg Doctor of the University (honoris causa) HonD FedUni Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) HonDLitt FedUni Doctor of Science (honoris causa) HonDSc FedUni Doctor of Arts (honoris causa) HonDA FedUni Doctor of Business (honoris causa) HonDBus FedUni Doctor of Education (honoris causa) HonDEd FedUni Note: The recipients of honorary doctorates are not permitted, under the Australian Qualifications Framework (Second Edition, January 2013), to use the title ‘Doctor’ Fellows of the University are permitted to use the title outside the University eg [name] Fellow of the University Emeritus Professors are permitted to use the title outside the University eg Emeritus Professor [name]
C.	Accessing privileges	Recipient	Holders of honorary awards shall be entitled to a number of privileges, which may include: 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 use of the University Library noted on the University Register and such other privileges as may be determined by the Vice-Chancellor from time to time Honorary award recipients shall not, by reason of the office, be a member of the University

9. Revoking an Honorary Award

	ACTIVITY	RESPONSIBILITY	STEPS
A.	Rescinding an award	Council	An honorary award may be rescinded by Council on the recommendation of the Governance and Strategy Committee or Academic Board where Council is of the opinion that the recipient has acted in such a manner as to bring the University’s name into disrepute (Refer Revocation of Awards Procedure)

Supporting Documents

Responsibility

Vice-Chancellor and President, as the Approval Authority, is responsible for monitoring the implementation, outcomes and scheduled review of this procedure.
Director, Governance and Strategy, as the Document Owner, is responsible for maintaining the content of this procedure as delegated by the Approval Authority.

Promulgation

The Honorary Awards Procedure will be communicated throughout the University via:

An Announcement Notice via FedNews and on the FedUni Policy Central ‘Recently Approved Documents’ page to alert the University-wide community of the approved Procedure
Council Agenda
Academic Board Agenda

Implementation

The Honorary Awards Procedure will be implemented throughout the University via:

An Announcement Notice via FedNews website and on the ‘Recently Approved Documents’ page on the ‘Policies, Procedures and Forms @ the University’ website to alert the University-wide community of the approved Procedure

Records Management

Document Title	Location	Responsible Officer	*Minimum Retention* Period**
Honorary Award Nomination Form	The University’s approved records management system	Council Secretariat	Temporary Destroy once administrative use is concluded
Fellows of the University Nomination Form	The University’s approved records management system	Council Secretariat	Temporary Destroy once administrative use is concluded
Titles of Emeritus Professor Nomination Form	The University’s approved records management system	Council Secretariat	Temporary Destroy once administrative use is concluded
Report to Council	The University’s approved records management system	Council Secretariat	Temporary Destroy once administrative use is concluded

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University Awards Guidelines		Higher Education Awards (by Coursework) Procedure

Policy Glossary

Approval Authority:	Vice-Chancellor and President		Original Issue	04/05/2017
Policy Sponsor:	Director, Governance and Strategy		Current Version:	28/11/2023
CRICOS Provider Number	00103D		Review Date:	29/06/2026
TEQSA Provider ID:	PRV12151		Provider Category:	Australian University
RTO Code	4909	Policy Code	CG1996

Warning - Uncontrolled when printed! The current version of this document is kept on the FedUni website.

Approval Authority:	Vice-Chancellor and President	Original Issue	04/05/2017
Policy Sponsor:	Director, Governance and Strategy	Current Version:	28/11/2023
CRICOS Provider Number	00103D	Review Date:	29/06/2026
Policy Code	CG1996

Policy code:	CG1996
Policy owner:	Director, Governance and Strategy
Approval authority:	Vice-Chancellor and President
Approval date:	28 November 2023
Next review date:	29 June 2026

University governance document

Document Currently Under Consultation

Current Status: Under Review 18 April 2024

Honorary Awards Procedure

Policy code: CG1996 Policy owner: Director, Governance and Strategy Approval authority: Vice-Chancellor and President Approval date: 28 November 2023 Next review date: 29 June 2026

Purpose