University Secretary's Department Standing Resolutions of Council

2.3 - Honours Committee

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The committee exercises governance responsibilities on behalf of Council in considering appointments of special distinction, and also recommends and advises on honours and awards in recognition of service to the University or the community generally.

I Membership

Chancellor (chairperson)
Vice-Chancellor
One Deputy Chancellor
Provost
Deputy Vice-Chancellors (nominated by the Vice-Chancellor in consultation with the Chancellor)
President of the Academic Board
Council Fellow appointed from among the professors of the University
Two members of the Academic Board nominated annually by the President of the Academic Board
Up to three persons co-opted annually by the committee to ensure a balance of both gender and special needs in a given year

II Terms of Reference

  1. The committee identifies and nominates individuals associated with the University appropriate to be proposed by the University for recognition under the national honours scheme.
  2. The committee must consider, and recommend to the Council through the Academic Board, proposals for the awarding of the degree of Doctor of Laws Honoris-Causa under Statute 11.5.5.
  3. The committee provides initial advice to deans of faculties with respect to possible nominations for the award of honorary degrees of doctor under Statute 11.5.4.
  4. The committee must consider, and recommend to Council, proposals for the making of Awards of Silver and Gold Medals for Exceptional Service to the University in accordance with Council policy.
  5. The committee considers and recommends to Council proposals for the appointment of Nobel Laureates and other eminent scholars to the University.
  6. The committee considers and recommends to Council proposals for the appointment of distinguished professors from within the University as Melbourne Laureate Professors. Appointments and re-appointments will be recommended for such periods as the committee considers appropriate.
  7. The committee considers and recommends to Council proposals from the Vice-Chancellor for the appointment of Vice-Chancellor’s Fellows.

III Delegations

The committee has the following delegated authorities of Council:

IV Honorary Degree Procedures

  1. The committee considers nominations for the honorary degree of doctor of Laws under Statute 11.5. If a nomination is endorsed by the committee, it will be forwarded to the Academic Board and, if approved by the Academic Board, then to the Council.
  2. The committee may support or recommend the award of an honorary degree under Statute 11.5 in the following situations:
    1. to reward exceptional service to the university as a whole or to some part of the university;
    2. to recognise outstanding service to the international, Australian, Victorian or Melbourne communities by a member of the university or a person having an identifiable connection with the university; or
    3. to associate the University with someone of such eminence and personal qualities that the association reflects credit on the University.
    Serving staff members of the university will not be eligible for honorary degrees until their time of service is close to completion unless exceptional circumstances warrant the award of an honorary degree prior to this.
  3. The committee will provide initial advice to deans of faculties with respect to possible nominations for the award of an honorary degree of doctor under statute 11.5. Deans will seek this advice before proposals are discussed in faculties. On such an occasion, the dean of the faculty concerned may be invited to attend the meeting to speak to the proposal.
  4. Reports of meetings of the committee containing recommendations for the nomination of persons to be admitted to the honorary degree of doctor of Laws will be presented to the Academic Board. If the nomination is approved by the Academic Board, it will then be recommended to the Council.

Committee reports will not include details of advice to a dean of a faculty in relation to the procedure outlined for an award of an honorary degree of doctor under Statute 11.5. Confidentiality is to be maintained at all stages during the nomination process.

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