Honorary Degrees
Guidelines for Nominations for the Award of Honorary Degrees
In accordance with the Ordinances, the University of Essex each year
awards a number of Honorary Degrees at the graduation ceremonies that take
place in July. Nominations are sought from all
members of the University and others connected to the University, such as
external members of Council. The Committee may also consider nominations
submitted from outside the University.
All nominations are considered by the Honorary Degrees Committee during
the autumn term each year. The Committee reports to Senate during the spring
term ahead of the public announcement of the names of the successful
candidates.
These guidelines set out the procedures for submitting nominations for
consideration by the Honorary Degrees Committee and the general criteria by
which nominations are considered. The criteria guidance for the
Committee and does not constitute formal policy.
1. Procedures for making nominations
1.1.
All nominations are considered by the Honorary Degrees Committee during the
autumn term each year. All nominations received ahead of the October deadline
are considered by the Committee during the autumn term. Nominations received
at other times are held over until the autumn term following their receipt.
The deadline for 2013 nominations is Wednesday 12 October 2012
1.2.
All nominations should be submitted using the online
nomination form.
Please note: you will be required to complete the nomination form in one go.
1.3.
Limited research is conducted into each nominee’s background ahead of
consideration by the Committee. Please include any relevant background
information about the nominee that may support the nomination.
1.4.
Additional information can be provided to support each nomination, but
should be restricted to the equivalent of four pages of A4 paper.
The Committee reserves the right to edit any additional information
submitted if it exceeds this amount.
1.5.
In order to avoid unnecessary confusion and/or embarrassment, those
making nominations are asked to ensure that the person concerned is not
aware that their name has been put forward.
1.6.
All nominations are acknowledged.
1.7.
It is not possible to give detailed feedback on nominations, but those
making recommendations will be informed, in confidence, of the outcome of
their nominations. This feedback is given after both the Committee has met
and the successful nominees have accepted the award.
1.8.
No public announcement is made until after the names of the successful
nominees are reported to Senate. The outcome of the Committee’s
deliberations must remain confidential until the time of the official
announcement.
2. Criteria for assessing nominations
2.1.
Senate has determined that, when awarding honorary degrees, the Committee
should have in mind distinction in:
- the fields of study represented in the University;
- the arts;
- sport;
- industry; and
- public service, including service to the University.
The desirability of having both men and women named for consideration is
also noted.
2.2.
In accordance with Senate’s wishes, the Committee has approved the following
criteria:
2.2.1
Distinction in academic fields
Nominations intended to honour outstanding academic achievement should
relate to a field of study currently represented in the University and be
endorsed by an appropriate member of academic staff.
2.2.2
Distinction in the arts
Nominations intended to honour achievement in the arts should reflect an
outstanding contribution to the cultural and creative environment whether in
the UK or abroad.
2.2.3
Distinction in sport
Nominations intended to honour achievement in sport should reflect
sporting achievements whether in the UK or abroad. Nominations for those who
have made a contribution beyond the sports arena are particularly welcomed.
2.2.4
Distinction in industry
Nominations intended to honour achievement in industry should reflect a
particular individual’s personal contribution to the industry concerned,
whether in the UK or abroad.
2.2.5
Distinction in public service
Nominations intended to honour achievement in public service must avoid
any suggestion that the University is partisan. For this reason, the
University maintains a convention of not honouring serving politicians or
active partisan campaigners, though nominations of serving foreign
politicians are considered.
2.2.6
Distinction in service to the University of Essex
Nominations intended to honour achievement in service to the University
itself must not be made with respect to someone currently employed by the
University, and only in exceptional cases to someone recently retired from
the University. The University has other means of expressing its
appreciation of distinguished retired academic and other staff, for example
through
emeritus professorships, honorary fellowships and the naming of
buildings, laboratories, rooms and prizes.
2.2.7
Other issues to be taken into account:
- There should be some connection, whether academic,
professional or personal, between the person being nominated
and the University and/or the county of Essex. This may be
indirect and take the form of local birth, local residence,
former membership of the University as a student or member
of staff, or congruence of interest in an academic area in
which the University has a particular interest;
- Evidence of prior engagement with the University will be
considered favourably;
- The University does not normally award an honorary
degree to someone who already possesses such
awards from other UK institutions. At the discretion of the
Committee nominees who do hold similar awards may be
considered;
- In awarding honorary degrees, the University aims for a
reasonable balance between the sciences and the arts, and,
within the arts, between social science, the humanities and
the professions. It also aims at a gender balance and to
ensure that distinguished people from outside the UK are
honoured, given the substantial proportion of students who
come to the University from overseas; and
- The University does not normallly accept a re-nomination after two
previous unsuccessful attempts, unless there has been a long
interval since the previous nomination and there is a
significant change in the case being put forward.
3. University Partner Institutions
3.1.
The Honorary Degrees Committee considers and approves nominations for the
award of honorary degrees submitted by its major partner institutions,
in accordance with procedures agreed with those institutions. Such
nominations are considered during the autumn term alongside nominations
submitted by members of the University and others.
3.2.
The following procedures have been agreed for handling nominations by
University Partner Institutions:
3.2.1
All relevant institutions are required to submit nominations by 31
October each year.
3.2.2
Nominations must be made electronically to the secretary of the Honorary Degress Committee.
3.2.3
The Committee’s decisions regarding approval of the nominations are
reported to the relevant institutions immediately after the Committee has
met.
3.2.4
The names of the successful nominees are reported to Senate during the
spring term ahead of the public announcement of all of the names of
University of Essex honorary graduands.
3.3.
Criteria for assessing nominations
3.3.1
The Committee will use the same criteria when considering the suitability of nominations submitted
by partner institutions, but will also take into account the individual circumstances of the partner
institutions and the nominations they make. This will include the fields of distinction that partner
institutions may wish to honour, in particular, an academic discipline or specialism that may be offered
by a partner institution but not by the University.
Secretary, Honorary Degrees Committee
May 2012