Governance (Honorary Awards) Rule 2012 No. 2

• Division 1 Introduction
• Division 2 Honorary Doctorates
• Division 3 Order of the Companion of the University
• Division 4 Emeritus Professor
• Division 5 Nomination and Determination 
• Division 6 Conferral of Awards
• Division 7 Miscellaneous

This Rule is rescinded and replaced by the Governance (Honorary Awards and Titles) Rule 2021.

Division 1 Introduction

Name of Rule

(1) This Rule is the Governance (Honorary Awards) Rule 2012 No 2.

(2) A reference to the Regulations for Honorary Awards is deemed to be a reference to this Rule.

Commencement

(3) This Rule commences on 24 May 2012 under resolution [CNL12/56)].

Purpose

(4) This Rule is enacted for the purpose of establishing honorary awards and the criteria for conferral.

Authority

(5) This Rule is made pursuant to authority granted to the Council under section 31 (1) (f) and 32 of Charles Sturt University Act 1989 No 76. 

Glossary

(6) In this Rule:

1. Act - means the Charles Sturt University Act 1989 No 76.
2. Award - means an honorary doctorate or Order of the Companion of the University conferred under this Rule. 
3. By-law - means the Charles Sturt University By-law 2005.
4. Committee - means the Nomination and Remuneration Committee established under the Governance (Nomination and Remuneration Committee) Rule 2015.
5. University Secretary - means the Secretary appointed under the By-law.

(7) In this Rule, unless the contrary intention appears:

1. a word or term that has not been defined in this Rule has the same meaning attributed to that word or term in the Act or By-law.
2. a reference to an officer of the University includes any person acting in that position; and
3. headings and notes do not form part of this Rule.

Division 2 Honorary Doctorates

Establishment of Honorary Doctorates

(8) For the purpose of section 19 (1)(a) of the Act  and clause 113 of the By-law, the following awards are prescribed and  may be conferred by the Council honoris causa:

Criteria

(9) The Council may confer the honorary award of Doctor of the University on a person who 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 or society.

(10) The Council may confer on any person an honorary doctorate of the University specified in clause 8(b) to (h) where the Council is satisfied that the person has made, in the words of Charles Napier Sturt, a significant contribution to the "public good" by making an outstanding contribution to scholarship or professional practice in the discipline for which an honorary doctorate may be conferred by the Council under this Division.

(11) A person is eligible to be nominated for an honorary doctorate of the University specified in clause 8(b) to (h)regardless of whether the person has had an association with the  University.

Post-nominals

(12) A person who has been admitted to an honorary doctorate by the Council under this Division may use the post- nominals relevant to the award as set out in clause 8.

Academic Dress

(13) The academic dress for the Doctor of the University (honoris causa) is:

1. a full festal gown of bright red corded fabric (PMS199) manufactured to the same pattern as graduates holding a degree of Doctor of Letters or Doctor of Science from the University of Cambridge, with blue(PMS286) silk-like facings, 12 centimetres wide and sleeve lining of the same colour, matching sleeve cord and cloth covered button;
2. a hood of black lightweight fabric manufactured to the Cambridge full shape style, fully lined in blue (PMS286) silk-like fabric and bound 20 mm over the cowl. The neckband is lined in blue (PMS286) and is affixed so that when worn, the blue colour of the neckband will show as a continuation of this colour in the cowl of the hood; and
3. a black Tudor bonnet trimmed with a blue cord and blue tassels.

(14) The academic dress for a Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) is as follows:

1. a gown of lightweight blue fabric (PMS286) manufactured to the same pattern as graduates holding a degree Doctor of Civil Laws from the University of Oxford, with front facings and sleeves in the faculty colour;  
2. a hood of bright red corded fabric (PMS199) manufactured to the Oxford doctorate shape, then fully lined and bound 20 mm over the cowl with silk-like fabric in the faculty colour; and
3. a black Tudor bonnet trimmed with gold cord and gold tassel.

(15) The academic dress for a Doctor of Science (honoris causa) is as follows:

1. a gown of lightweight blue fabric (PMS286) manufactured to the same pattern as graduates holding a degree Doctor of Civil Laws from the University of Oxford, with front facings and sleeves in the faculty colour;  
2. a hood of bright red corded fabric (PMS199) manufactured to the Oxford doctorate shape, then fully lined and bound 20 mm over the cowl with silk-like fabric in the faculty colour; and
3. a black Tudor bonnet trimmed with gold cord and gold tassel.

(16) The academic dress for the:

1. Doctor of Arts (honoris causa);
2. Doctor of Business (honoris causa);
3. Doctor of Education (honoris causa);
4. Doctor of Health Studies (honoris causa); and
5. Doctor of Applied Science (honoris causa);
6. is as follows:
   1. a gown of lightweight blue fabric (PMS286) manufactured to the same pattern as graduates holding a degree Doctor of Civil Laws from the University of Oxford, with front facings and sleeves in the faculty colour;
   2. a hood of bright red corded fabric (PMS199) manufactured to the Oxford doctorate shape, then fully lined and bound 20 mm over the cowl with silk-like fabric in the faculty colour; and
   3. a black Tudor bonnet trimmed with gold cord and gold tassels.

Privileges of Honorary Doctorates

(17) In addition to any other privileges granted to graduates of the University, persons admitted to a degree honoris causa of the University under this Division may, at the discretion of the Council:

1. have the degree conferred at a graduation ceremony or special ceremony of the Council;
2. be admitted as a life member of the alumni body of the University;
3. subject to the Library Rule, be entitled to life membership of the University Library and all the privileges attached thereto from time to time; and
4. be accorded special status at official functions of the University.

(18) The recipient of an award under Division 2 will hold the title of Doctor within the University and may use the title in all dealings with the University.

(19) As an honorary award, the admission of the recipient to a degree honoris causa under Division 2 does not entitle the recipient to be referred to as Doctor outside the University.

Division 3 Order of the Companion of the University

Establishment of Order of the Companion of the University

(20) There is an Order of the Companion of the University.

Criteria

(21) The Council may admit a person to the Order of the Companion of the University where the Council is satisfied that the  person has made a contribution towards, in the words of Charles Napier Sturt, "the public good" by:

1. providing significant support for the advancement of the University;
2. providing significant support to the development of the students of the University;
3. making a significant contribution to the life of and objectives of the University;
4. making a significant contribution to the development of inland Australia or the regions served by the University in Australia or overseas; or
5. making a significant contribution to the development of the University's infrastructure or services.

Post-nominals

(22) A person who has been admitted to the Order of the Companion of the University will hold the post-nominals Companion CSturt.

Ceremonial Dress

(23) The ceremonial dress for Companions of the University is as follows:

1. a gown of black cloth, manufactured to the same pattern as graduates holding a degree of Master of Arts from the  University of Cambridge; and
2. a stole of grey corded fabric (Pantone 423C) consisting of two tails each one  and a half metres long and 10 centimetres wide, fixed to a collar having the dimensions 33 centimetres wide and 20 centimetres deep, having square corners at the back of the neck embroidered with the University Coat of Arms, in full colour, on both tails at chest height worn showing colour on both sides; and
3. a medallion, to be worn about the neck suspended by a red ribbon (Pantone 199C), caste in Sterling Silver and being 60mm in diameter and 3mm thick, containing on the facing side an enamel facsimile of the official seal of the University as granted by the Territorial Decoration Garter Principle King of Arms encircled by the word "Companion of the University" in upper case and on the observe side a wattle spray with the words "Presented to" and the name of the recipient.

Privileges of Companions

(24) Persons admitted to the Order of the Companion of the University may, at the discretion of the Council:

1. have the award conferred at a special ceremony of the Council;
2. be admitted as a life member of the alumni body of the University;
3. subject to the Library Rule, be entitled to life membership of the University Library and all the privileges attached thereto from time to time; and
4. be accorded special status at official functions of the University.

Division 4 Emeritus Professor

Eligibility

(25) The Council may, in its absolute discretion, grant the title of Emeritus Professor to a Professor of the University if:

1. upon their retirement from the University:
   1. the Professor has occupied a Chair in the University or a position with the rank and title of Professor, for a minimum period of ten years; and
   2. during that period, the  Professor has given distinguished academic service above and beyond the level of service normally expected of a Professor to the scholarly community and/or to the University community.
2. upon their resignation from the University:
   1. the Professor meets the criteria in clause 25a above; and
   2. the granting of such a title is appropriate in all the circumstances.

(26) Despite clause 25, the Council may grant the title of Emeritus Professor to any former Professor of the University in circumstances that the Council deems to be special.

(27) For the avoidance of doubt, the grant of the title Emeritus Professor is not an automatic entitlement upon the retirement or resignation of a Professor of the University or for any other reason.

Privileges of Emeritus Professors

(28) The recipient of an award under Division 5 will hold the title of Emeritus Professor within the University and may use the title Professor Emeritus in all dealings with the University.

(29) As an honorary award recipient, the title of Emeritus Professor under Division 4 does not entitle the recipient to be referred to Professor Emeritus outside the University.

Division 5 Nomination and Determination 

(30) The nomination of a person for an honorary award under Division 2, 3, and 4 of this Rule may be made by:

1. a member of the Council;
2. the Academic Senate (acting as a body);
3. a Deputy Vice-Chancellor;
4. an Executive Dean of a Faculty (with the endorsement of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)); or
5. the University Secretary.

(31) The Vice-Chancellor may nominate a person for the title Emeritus Professor under Division 4 with the endorsement of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) if, in the view of the Vice-Chancellor, the Professor meets the criteria set out in clause 25.

(32) An award will not be conferred on any person at a time when such person is a remunerated member of the staff or a member of the Council of the University.

(33) Proposed nominations should be discussed with the Vice-Chancellor prior to submission.

(34) Nominations must be submitted to the Vice-Chancellor in the form of the Confidential Nomination and Remuneration Committee Honorary Award Submission Template, and include: 

1. the full name of the nominee;
2. the address and contact details for the nominee;
3. the award to which the nominee is proposed to be admitted;
4. a comment that sets out why the person being nominated meets the criteria for the award; and
5. attachments, including:
   1. two letters of nomination;
   2. Curriculum Vitae; and 
   3. Draft Citation (a statement of no more  than four A4 pages,1.5 line spaced, Arial 13 point, that includes why the person is being nominated and how the person meets the criteria for the award), that might be read at a conferral ceremony.

(35) The form of submission of nominations is subject to change as determined by the University Secretary from time to time.

(36) The Vice-Chancellor will review each nomination and determine whether to forward the nomination to the Committee. The Vice-Chancellor may consult on any nomination including with members of the senior executive of the University. A decision of the Vice-Chancellor to refer a nomination to the Committee is final.

(37) The University Secretary will include in the business papers of the next meeting of the Committee each nomination submitted by the Vice-Chancellor (where submitted before the close of agenda).

(38) Acting on behalf of the Council of the University, the Committee will review all nominations against the relevant criteria and may:

1. decline to further consider the nomination;
2. refer the nomination back to the Vice-Chancellor;
3. defer the nomination for consideration at a future date (a date need not be specified); or 
4. approve that an offer of an award is made to the proposed recipient (including making such changes to the nomination or draft citation as the Committee deems fit including as to the award to be made) and the form of the award, and:
   1. upon receipt of written acceptance, conferred upon the recipient at a ceremony of the University; and
   2. notify the Council of the Committee’s decision to confer the award.

Division 6 Conferral of Awards

(39) The Chancellor will write to a person approved under clause 34(b) on behalf of the Council.

(40) Where a recipient declines to accept an award, or fails to respond to an offer of an award within three months of the date of offer or such other date as may be determined by the Committee, the Committee will record a rescission of the offer of the award in its meeting minutes, and report such to the Council.

(41) Where a recipient accepts the award in writing, the Chancellor will report the same to the next meeting of the Council.

(42) Upon acceptance, the University Secretary will determine the date and location of the conferral of the award following consultation with the recipient.

(43) Where an award cannot be conferred in person, the Committee may, on behalf of the Council, approve the conferral in absentia.

(44) The conferral of a degree honoris causa will be evidenced by a Testamur in the form determined by the University Secretary issued under the Common Seal of the University.

(45) The admission of a person to the Order of the Companion of the University or the conferral of the Emeritus Professor title will be evidenced by a Certificate in the form determined by the University Secretary issued under the Common Seal of the University.

(46) The University Secretary shall publish a list of current recipients of an award under this Rule on the University website.

Division 7 Miscellaneous

Confidentiality

(47) Except as provided in this Rule, a person nominated for an award under this Rule will not be consulted beforehand, nor at any time  prior to the Committee’s decision on the proposal, and  all deliberations, investigations and recommendations relating to the nomination will be treated as strictly confidential by all persons concerned therewith.

Posthumous Awards

(48) A degree honoris causa or admission to the Order of the Companion of the University may be conferred or made posthumously where this is considered appropriate by the Committee. In this case, the award may be received by a relative or associate of the recipient as may be determined by the Vice-Chancellor  or University Secretary in their absolute discretion.

Rescission

(49) A recipient of an award under this Rule holds such an award, and any entitlements flowing therefrom, at the preference of the Committee. The Committee, on behalf of the Council, may rescind an award, or any entitlement, conferred under this Rule at any time.

(50) Where the Committee rescinds an award under clause 49, the Chancellor will report the reasons for this to the next meeting of the Council. 

Savings and Transitional

(51) An honorary award or title conferred under 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.