Honorary awards

Guidelines for the Selection of Candidates for Honorary Awards (Resolutions of the Senate)

Honorary degrees

1. Under Section 16(1)(a) of the University of Sydney Act 1989 the Senate may confer honorary degrees.

2. The purpose of such awards is for the University of Sydney to recognise excellence.

3. The criteria for selection will be:

academic eminence, or
distinguished creative achievement, or
an outstanding contribution beyond the expectations of the person’s particular field of endeavour which has influenced the thinking or general well-being of the wider community.

4. Any degree of the University may be awarded as an honorary award except the Doctor of Philosophy.

5. Names of proposed recipients for honorary degrees will be invited annually from:

Fellows and former Fellows of Senate.
The graduates and students of the University.
The full-time members of the academic and general staff of the University and such other members or classes of members of the staff of the University as the by-laws may prescribe.
Such graduates of other universities, or other persons, as are, in accordance with the by-laws, admitted as members of Convocation.
Principals of the incorporated colleges.
Persons declared by the by-laws to be superior officers of the University.
Persons who possess qualifications that are recognised by the by-laws as being of the same rank as the degree of Bachelor.

Each year advertisements will be placed calling for nominations which should include statements in support of academic standing. Names of proposed recipients should come to the Registrar, addressing the relevant criteria and with sufficient information to identify the person and the case for the award which must be in terms of Guideline 3.

Any person nominated for the award of an honorary degree shall not be consulted beforehand, nor at any time prior to the person being advised of Senate’s decision, and all nominations, deliberations, investigations and recommendations relating to the nomination shall be treated as strictly confidential by all persons concerned.

6. The Advisory Committee for Honorary Awards will take into account the names of proposed recipients submitted in framing its recommendations to Senate, noting advice from the relevant Deans and seeking such other advice as is deemed appropriate so as to properly inform the Committee.

7. The Chair will report to Senate the Committee’s recommendations which will then be moved. The report should include the detailed minutes of the Advisory Committee and the reasons given for the Committee’s recommendations. Other documentation relating to the Committee’s recommendations will be available on request.

8. Fellows of Senate or members of staff* of the University will not be eligible for the award of an honorary degree while in office.

Former Fellows of Senate or former members of staff* will not normally be eligible for nomination for an honorary degree within two years of their retirement from the relevant office.

* An exception may be made for compensated work of a minor nature.

9. Honorary Fellows of the University are eligible for nomination for the award of an honorary degree, except where Guideline 8 applies.

Honorary Fellows

1. Honorary Fellows will be selected on the basis of conspicuous continued involvement in one of the following:

support of the interests and welfare of the University of Sydney or of a particular part of the University’s activities;
promotion of the academic purposes of the University or of facilitating those purposes in any particular activity of the University;
fostering the links between the University and other institutions within and without Australia;
enlarging educational opportunities to enter the University among persons with limited prospects of so doing for reasons which they could not overcome;
representation of the University’s needs for resources for its growth and diversification and supply of such resources.

2. Names of proposed recipients for honorary fellowships will be invited annually from:

Fellows and former Fellows of Senate.
The graduates and students of the University.
The full-time members of the academic and general staff of the University and such other members or classes of members of the staff of the University as the by-laws may prescribe.
Such graduates of other universities, or other persons, as are, in accordance with the by-laws, admitted as members of Convocation.
Principals of the incorporated colleges.
Persons declared by the by-laws to be superior officers of the University.
Persons who possess qualifications that are recognised by the by-laws as being of the same rank as the degree of Bachelor.

Each year advertisements will be placed calling for nominations. Names of proposed recipients should come to the Registrar, addressing the relevant criteria and with sufficient information to identify the person and the case for the award which must be in terms of Guideline 1.

Any person nominated for the award of an honorary fellowship shall not be consulted beforehand, nor at any time prior to the person being advised of Senate’s decision, and all nominations, deliberations, investigations and recommendations relating to the nomination shall be treated as strictly confidential by all persons concerned.

3. The Advisory Committee for Honorary Awards will take into account the names of proposed recipients submitted in framing its recommendations to Senate.

4. The Chair will report to Senate the Committee’s recommendations which will then be moved. The report should include the detailed minutes of the Advisory Committee and the reasons given for the Committee’s recommendations. Other documentation relating to the Committee’s recommendations will be available on request.

5. Fellows of Senate or members of staff* of the University will not be eligible for the award of an honorary fellowship while in office.

Former Fellows of Senate or former members of staff* will not normally be eligible for nomination for an honorary fellowship within two years of their retirement from the relevant office.

* An exception may be made for compensated work of a minor nature.

6. A person on whom an honorary degree has been conferred is eligible to be nominated for election as an Honorary Fellow, except where Guideline 5 applies.