Statute 6.2 - Admission to Honorary Degrees

• Essential Criteria
• Persons to Whom an Honorary Degree Should not be Awarded

(1) There shall be an honorary degree of Doctor of the University [DUniv(HonorisCausa)] and an honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws [DLawsUniv(HonorisCausa)].

(2) The titles referred to in clause (1) of this Statute are honorific titles only and not formal qualifications under the Australian Qualifications Framework. Accordingly, it is not permissible for an individual who is awarded an honorary degree to use the title "Doctor" or "Dr". The official award abbreviation as referenced in brackets in clause (1) may be cited as a post-nominal.

(3) The Senate may approve the awarding of honorary degrees under clause (1) of this Statute to any person, whether or not such person has graduated at a university, on a recommendation of the Honorary Awards Committee.

Essential Criteria

(4) All nominees proposed for consideration for an honorary degree must support the ACU Mission, Identity and Values in addition to satisfying at least ONE of the following:

1. a person who has provided outstanding support to, or enhanced, the standing of the University or the Catholic Church; and / or
2. a person of academic eminence; and / or
3. a person demonstrating distinguished creative achievement; and / or
4. a person who has provided an outstanding contribution beyond the expectations of the person's particular field of endeavour which has influenced the thinking or general wellbeing of the wider community.

Persons to Whom an Honorary Degree Should not be Awarded

(5) Honorary degrees should not be awarded to the following persons:

1. Politicians in office;
2. Current Visitors and scholars or visiting scholars;
3. Current Members of the ACU Senate, Corporation or Chapter; and
4. Current ACU academic and professional staff.

(6) Where Senate has resolved to award an honorary degree under clause (3) of this Statute, the degree shall be conferred at a graduation ceremony or other ceremonial occasion by the Vice-Chancellor and President or other Presiding Officer who shall first cite the grounds for such conferral.

(7) With the exception of the Vice-Chancellor and President, Honorary Awards Committee members should not participate in the nomination process.

(8) An honorary degree may be conferred in the absence of the candidate or posthumously subsequent to a resolution passed by the Senate.

(9) Senate may make Regulations consistent with this Statute 6.2 prescribing the processes to be followed in relation to the nomination and conferral of honorary degrees.