University Secretary's Department Statutes and Regulation

Statute 12.8 - Revocation of Awards

 

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[Resolved 9/5/95]

Power to revoke awards

12.8.1 (1) Section 19(2) of the Act provides that if the statutes so provide, Council may, in the circumstances and manner prescribed in the statutes, revoke any degree, diploma, certificate or licence conferred or granted by the University.

(2) The circumstances in which a degree (including an honorary degree), diploma, certificate or licence may be revoked and the manner in which it is to be revoked are prescribed in this statute.

Circumstances for revocation

12.8.2 (1) If Council is satisfied, in accordance with section 12.8.3, that a degree (other than an honorary degree), diploma, certificate or licence conferred or granted by the University has been obtained by a person as a result of fraud, it may revoke the degree, diploma, certificate or licence.

(2) Fraud includes, but is not limited to-

  1. an untrue or misleading certification by a candidate under section 2 of Statute 12.5;
  2. the use of material in any thesis or work which was knowingly false or fabricated;
  3. appropriating the ideas or work of another person and passing them off as one's own.

(3) Subject to section 12.8.3, Council may revoke an honorary degree if it is satisfied that-

  1. the details provided in support of a nomination for the award of an honorary degree are subsequently found to be incorrect or incomplete;
  2. the person awarded the honorary degree uses the title associated with the honorary degree in any manner which brings the degree or the University into disrepute; or
  3. the person awarded the honorary degree behaves in such a way, either before or after the award of the honorary degree, that brings the reputation of that person or the University, or both, into disrepute.

(4) For the purposes of section 12.8.3, and without limitation, a prima facie case for the revocation of an honorary degree exists if any of the following occurs and becomes known to the University-

  1. a recipient of an honorary degree engages, or is alleged to have engaged, in behaviour that may call into question the person’s probity;
  2. a recipient of an honorary degree is convicted of a criminal offence, the maximum penalty for which is at least 12 months’ imprisonment; or
  3. the accuracy or completeness of the information which was the basis for the award of the honorary degree is, or is alleged to be, materially deficient.

Manner of revocation

12.8.3 (1) Where Council determines that a prima facie case exists for revoking a person's degree, diploma, certificate or licence, Council must establish a committee to investigate the facts.

(2) The committee, which is to be administered by the university secretary, must give the person against whom the prima facie case exists an opportunity to be heard.

(3) The committee must report its findings to Council together with a recommendation for the consideration of Council.

(4) Council may require a person whose degree, diploma, certificate or licence is revoked under this statute to return to the University the certificate awarded in respect thereof.

(5) This statute applies to degrees, diplomas, certificates and licences conferred or granted whether before or after its date of commencement.

 

 

[Am. 3/5/99, effective 1/7/99, ss 12.8.1, 12.8.2 & 12.8.3 am 27/4/09 – approved by the Minister 31/5/09.]

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