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Governance (Honorary Awards and Titles) Rule 2021

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Section 1 - Preliminary

Name of Rule

(1) This is the Governance (Honorary Awards and Titles) Rule 2021.

Commencement

(2) This Rule commences on 29 October 2021 under resolution CNL 170/14.

Purpose

(3) This Rule establishes the honorary awards and titles that may be conferred by Charles Sturt University and the criteria for their conferral.

(4) As Australia’s leading regional university, Charles Sturt University (the University) confers honorary awards and titles upon eminent members of the community to acknowledge and honour outstanding achievements or significant contributions to the public good, the University and its regions. 

Authority

(5) This Rule is made under the authority granted to the Council under sections 31(1)(f) and 32 of Charles Sturt University Act 1989 (Council may make Rules with respect to governance and administration of the University) and under clause 113(1) of the Charles Sturt University By-law 2005 (Council may confer, honoris causa, any degree of the University).

Glossary

(6) Nil.

Notes and headings

(7) Notes and headings do not form part of this Rule.

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Section 2 - Rule

Part A - Award and title categories

(8) The following honorary awards and titles may be conferred by the University Council (Council) under this Rule:

  1. Honorary degrees
  2. Order of the Companion of the University
  3. Emeritus Professor
  4. Pro Chancellor
  5. Professor of the University

(9) This Rule also establishes the Distinguished Alumni Awards, detailed in the Distinguished Alumni Awards Procedure.

(10) The Honorary Awards and Titles Procedure provides details on nominations, selection criteria, conferral and the privileges for honorary awards and titles.

(11) The Protocols Policy and Protocols Schedule - Academic and Ceremonial Dress sets out the academic or ceremonial dress for honorary awards and titles.

Honorary degrees

(12) Honorary degrees may be awarded to individuals who have demonstrated significant personal achievements and/or exceptional contributions to their field, community or society.

(13) Council may confer the honorary degrees of Doctor of the University and honorary doctorate in a discipline offered by the University:

  1. A Doctor of the University may be conferred:
    1. where a person has a current or former association with the University and has achieved eminence at national or international level by making an outstanding contribution to the advancement of education, research or society, or
    2. where a person has made outstanding achievements to scholarship or professional practice in a discipline that is not offered by the University. A person is not required to have a current or former association with the University to receive this award.
  2. An honorary doctorate in a discipline offered by the University may be conferred where a person has made outstanding contributions to scholarship or professional practice in the discipline. A person is not required to have a current or former association with the University to receive this award.

(14) An honorary degree:

  1. will be evidenced by a testamur in the form determined by the University Secretary such that it unambiguously identifies the qualification as an honorary qualification. The testamur will be issued under the Common Seal of the University and will state the name of the award as either ‘Honorary Doctor of [the University/discipline]’ or ‘Doctor of [the University/discipline] (honoris causa)’, and
  2. may, at the discretion of the Council, be conferred or presented at a graduation ceremony or special ceremony of the Council.

(15) Admission to an honorary doctorate under this Rule does not entitle the recipient to be referred to as Doctor or use the pre-nominal ‘Dr’ outside the University. However, the University may refer to the recipient as ‘Doctor’ in dealings with the University in recognition of the honorary award.

Order of the Companion of the University

(16) The title Companion of the University may be conferred on individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service or have made significant contributions to the University and its regions.

(17) A Companion of the University:

  1. will be evidenced by:
    1. a certificate in the form determined by the University Secretary and issued under the Common Seal of the University, and
    2. a medallion as described in the Honorary Awards and Titles - Companion of the University medal, and
  2. may, at the discretion of Council, be conferred or presented at a special ceremony of the Council.

Emeritus Professor

(18) The title of Emeritus Professor may be conferred on retiring or, in exceptional circumstances, resigning professors whose service and leadership within the University up to the point of their retirement or resignation was unquestionably outstanding.  

(19) An Emeritus Professor title:

  1. will be evidenced by a certificate in the form determined by the University Secretary and issued under the Common Seal of the University, and
  2. may, at the discretion of Council, be conferred or presented at a special ceremony of the Council.

(20) Notwithstanding clause 18:

  1. Council have the discretion to confer the title of Emeritus Professor to any former professor of the University, and
  2. there is no automatic entitlement to the title upon the retirement or resignation of a professor of the University or for any other reason.

Pro Chancellor

(21) The role of the Pro Chancellor is important to the successful presence of the University in our regions and connection to our communities. 

(22) A Pro Chancellor may be appointed as a ceremonial position to represent the Council and may, among other things, present awards at graduation and scholarship ceremonies on behalf of the Council, in a region or regions of the University. 

(23) The honorary title of Pro Chancellor may be conferred on:

  1. individuals determined by the Council, by resolution of Council, or
  2. current members of Council, by the University Secretary with the approval of the Chancellor, for a particular official ceremony or approved event.

(24) A Pro Chancellor titleholder:

  1. may, at the formal invitation of the Chancellor or the University Secretary, preside at official ceremonies of the University on behalf of the Chancellor where the Chancellor, Deputy Chancellor or member of the Council are unable to do so, or otherwise at the discretion of the Chancellor, and
  2. holds no formal authority on behalf of the University and must not bind or make representations for or on behalf of the University.

(25) A Pro Chancellor is appointed for a term not exceeding two years and may be reappointed at the end of their term.

Professor of the University

(26) The Council will determine whether to grant the title of Professor of the University upon the Vice-Chancellor to coincide with the commencement of their appointment, and for the duration of their term, unless otherwise rescinded by the Council. 

Part B - Administering awards and titles

Authority to confer honorary awards and titles

(27) Under this Rule, the Nomination and Remuneration Committee (the Committee) has the authority to approve nominations for conferral of an honorary award or title by Council, except for the title of Professor of the University. 

(28) The Committee reserves the right not to approve a nomination in any one year. 

(29) An honorary award or title will not be approved for:

  1. current, remunerated members of the University’s staff,
  2. current members of Council (with the exception of clause 23b.), or
  3. current holders of a local, state or federal political office.

(30) The Chancellor or their delegate will offer the honorary award or title to the nominee approved by the Committee and, where the offer is accepted, confer the honorary award or title on behalf of Council.

(31) The Honorary Awards and Titles Procedure sets out the nomination process, selection criteria, conferral process and privileges associated with honorary awards and titles.

Confidentiality

(32) Except as provided in this Rule, a person nominated for an award or title will not be consulted prior to the Committee’s decision on the proposal. All deliberations, investigations and recommendations relating to the nomination will be treated as strictly confidential by all persons concerned.

Posthumous awards

(33) In exceptional circumstances, an honorary award or Companion of the University title may be conferred posthumously, where this is considered appropriate by the Committee. In this case, the award or title may be received by a relative or associate of the recipient as determined by the Vice-Chancellor or University Secretary.

Revocation of awards and titles

(34) The Committee may, on behalf of Council, revoke an honorary award or title in accordance with the Governance (Amendment, Relinquishment and Revocation of Awards) Rule 2015. The reasons for the revocation will be reported to the next meeting of the Council.

(35) A Pro Chancellor title may also be revoked or terminated at any time by notice in writing and signed by the Chancellor.

Part C - Miscellaneous

Savings and transitional

(36)  An honorary award or title conferred under earlier versions of the Governance (Honorary Awards) Rule, the Governance (Pro Chancellor) Rule, the Regulations for the Award of Honorary Degrees, Regulations for Honorary Awards, or the Policy on Emeritus Professors, is confirmed as made and shall continue as though awarded under this Rule.  

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Section 3 - Schedules and associated information

(37) The following documents support this Rule:

  1. Honorary Awards and Titles Procedure
  2. Distinguished Alumni Awards Procedure
  3. Honorary Awards and Titles - Companion of the University medal

(38) The following documents are associated with this Rule:

  1. Protocols Schedule - Academic and Ceremonial Dress
  2. Governance (Relinquishment and Revocation of Awards) Rule 2023