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University Council - Honorary Awards Procedure

Section 1 - Summary

(1) Victoria University (VU) seeks to expand its distinctive reputation as a global leader in dual sector learning and research. This Procedure supports this aim by enabling the University Council to recognise outstanding achievement and/or significant contributions to the community or to the University through the conferral of honorary degrees. Such awards are honorary in nature and are not awarded on the basis of completion of a course of study. This Procedure outlines the process, criteria and conditions for nomination and conferral. 

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Section 2 - Scope

(2) This Procedure applies to staff or former staff of VU, or any other individual who has made a significant personal achievement and/or significant contribution to the University or the community.

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Section 3 - Policy/Regulation

(3) University Council Regulations 2021

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Section 4 - Procedures

Part A - Summary of Roles and Responsibilities

Roles

Responsibilities
Academic Board Puts forward a nomination for any of the Honorary Awards. 
Considers recommendations from Vice-Chancellor's Group and recommends to the Nominations Committee Honorary Doctorate nominees. 
Nominations Committee
 Considers and recommends to the University Council Honorary Doctorate and Companion of the University nominees.
University Council Confers Honorary Doctorates and grants Companion of the University. 
Vice-Chancellor In the first instance, considers nominations for Honorary Doctorate & Companion of the University, seeks preliminary feedback from the Nominations Committee, and then forwards to the Vice-Chancellor's Group.
Grants Vice-Chancellor’s Service Medal.
Vice-Chancellor's Group (including all Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Chief Financial Officer, CEO of VU TAFE, Executive Director Moondani Balluk, General) Considers and recommends to Academic Board Honorary Doctorate nominees.
Considers and recommends to Nominations Committee Companions of the University.
Considers and recommends to Vice-Chancellor Vice-Chancellor’s Service Medal.
Puts forward a nomination for any of the Honorary Awards.
Individual Vice-Chancellor’s Group member Puts forward a nomination for any of the Honorary Awards to the Vice-Chancellor's Group.
University Staff Member Puts forward a nomination for any of the Honorary Awards to their Senior Executive who reports to the Vice-Chancellor.

Part B - Procedures

(4) The University Council will from time to time confer honorary degrees and grant honorary awards upon individuals who meet the criteria established by Council for those awards.

(5) Honorary awards are granted to individuals who reflect the diversity of interests, backgrounds, and perspectives reflected in the University; the region VU serves; and broader society. The following principles guide the consideration of nominations:

  1. Recognition and prioritisation, where appropriate, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
  2. Diversity, progressive inclusivity, intersectionality, strategic alignment, equality of opportunity and transparency of process.
  3. Recipients of honorary awards who:
    1. Reflect and represent the University’s purpose and values in an exemplary manner;
    2. Advance the University’s reputation and public profile in the community;
    3. Serve as inspiration and as an aspirational role model to students and graduates of the University.
  4. No person may nominate themselves for an honorary award.

Honorary Awards

(6) Honorary Awards recognise outstanding achievement and/or significant contributions to the University or the community, and are conferred in accordance with the following categories and criteria: 

Honorary Award

Descriptor and Criteria
Honorary Doctorate (Hon.D):
a. in any discipline offered by the University; or
b. as an Honorary Doctorate of the University.		 Honorary Doctorates may be conferred on the basis of one or more of the following criteria:
1. Distinguished career and an outstanding national or international reputation in a field of education and/or research.
2. An outstanding contribution to knowledge and understanding, which has advanced people, place and planet.
3. An outstanding contribution to society, which has influenced the thinking of the wider community. 
4. Exceptional service, professional and public, to a particular discipline, and in a way that upholds the values of VU.

Where the Hon Doctorate is awarded, the Courses Lifecycle - Award Course Nomenclature and Coding Procedure will be followed in setting the post nominal.
 
Where the Hon Doctorate is awarded in a particular discipline, the post nominal is preceded by ‘Hon.D’, for example, Hon.DSc. 

The post nominal for HonDoctor of the University is Hon.DUniv.
Companion of the University Companions of the University may be granted on the basis of one or more of the following criteria:
1. Demonstrated exceptional service to either the community or the University, and in a way that upholds the values of VU.
2. Provided exceptional advocacy and support in the development and/or enhancement of the community and/or University.
3. Demonstrated achievements deemed by the Council to be important in the development/ promotion/ enhancement of the community and/or University, and in a way that upholds the values of VU.

The conferral of Companion of the University recognises contributions that are aligned with the University’s values, including its ongoing engagement with communities of Melbourne’s west.
Vice-Chancellor’s Service Medal This Medal is granted to University staff, typically upon retirement, in recognition of outstanding service beyond the requirements of their position, and in a way that upholds the values of VU.

Nominations Process

(7) Nominations for the awarding of honorary awards are considered by the Vice-Chancellor in the first instance.

(8) Nominations may be made to the Vice-Chancellor by:

  1. University staff through a senior executive who reports to the Vice-Chancellor
  2. Senior executive who report to the Vice-Chancellor
  3. The Nominations Committee
  4. The Academic Board

(9) Submissions can be made through the Honorary Awards Submissions Page. The call for nominations will be made once a year by the Secretary to Council.

(10) The Office of the Vice-Chancellor coordinates the administration of honorary awards.

(11) All honorary doctorate nominations are strictly confidential. The person being nominated should not be advised of their nomination unless and until an award is approved. Once Council has approved the nomination and the nominee has accepted the honour, the University community and the nominator will be informed.

(12) Nominees for honorary doctorate must be alive at the time that the nomination is made but a posthumous award may be made if the person passed after the nomination was submitted.

Nomination Requirements

(13) Self-nominations are not permitted.

(14) Currently serving Local, State and Federal politicians, Council or Council Committee members, major donors and individuals with contractual relations are not eligible to receive honorary awards. Additionally, current staff are not eligible to receive honorary doctorates or companions of the university.

(15) All nominations must be submitted in writing and normally include the following:

  1. A nomination form completed by the nominator.
  2. a statement of up to 400 words, supported by evidence, addressing the relevant selection criteria.
  3. What, if any, is the nominator’s connection to the nominee.
  4. A current curriculum vitae or equivalent, including the nominee’s current contact information and email address.
  5. Links to online information, or other attachments such as, news articles, publications, etc, that would aid evaluation.
  6. Due to the need for strict confidentiality, nominators for Honorary Doctorates and Companion of the University Awards should not seek letters of support or references. The Office of the Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of the committee, will contact the nominator should it require further information.

Consideration of Nominations

(16) Honorary Doctorate nominations are considered by the Vice-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor's Group, followed by the Academic Board then recommended to the Nominations Committee before Council approval is sought. 

(17) Companion of the University medals are considered by the Vice-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor's Group, followed by Nominations Committee before Council approval is sought.

(18) Vice-Chancellor’s Service Medals are considered by the Vice-Chancellor's Group before being determined by the Vice-Chancellor.

Selection Criteria

(19) The criteria outlined within clause (6) of the Procedure together with the Principles outlined in clause (5) will be used to evaluate the merit of nominations. Appropriate due diligence checks will be undertaken on shortlisted nominees prior to any recommendation being made.

Presentation of Honorary Awards

(20) Honorary doctorates are generally conferred at a Victoria University graduation ceremony. The University may confer an Honorary Doctorate outside a University graduation ceremony in exceptional circumstances.

(21) A Companion of the University or a Vice-Chancellor’s Service Medal are awarded at an appropriate University event or occasion.

Revoking and Surrendering an Honorary Awards

(22) An honorary award may be terminated at any time in writing by the recipient or the Chancellor on behalf of the University. Before any recommendation is made to revoke an honorary award, the University will provide the award holder with notice of the relevant matters and a reasonable opportunity to respond. An honorary award may be terminated where:

  1. the continuation is considered to be against Australia’s, the communities we serve or the University’s best interests; and,
  2. the award holder has acted in a manner inconsistent with VU values, behavioural expectations or strategic priorities.
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Section 5 - HESF/ASQA/ESOS Alignment

(23) HESF – Standard 1.5 Qualifications and Certification (specifically 1.5 (1) and 1.5 (11)). 

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Section 6 - Definitions

(24) Honorary Award: The highest honour conferred by the Victoria University Council, including an Honorary Doctorate, Companion of the University or Vice-Chancellor’s Service Medal.

(25) Honorary Doctorate: An honorary degree conferred upon an individual who has made an outstanding contribution in education or research or in community service.

(26) Companion of the University: An honorary award, in the form of a Medal, granted to an individual who has contributed to the University, the communities it serves, including Melbourne’s west or broader society.

(27) Vice-Chancellor’s Service Medal: An honorary award, in the form of a medal, granted to a University staff member, typically upon retirement, in recognition of outstanding service beyond the requirements of their position.