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Titles and Honorary Degrees Regulations 2013

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Part 1 - Preliminary

1. Objective

The objective of these Regulations is to make further provision for the conferral of titles and honorary degrees, in accordance with the Governance, Academic and Student Affairs Statute 2013.

2. Authorising provision

These Regulations are made under the Governance, Academic and Student Affairs Statute 2013 and sections 28, 29 and 30 of the Victoria University Act 2010 (Vic).

Part 2 - Titles

Division 1 - Emeritus Professor or Emeritus Educator

3. Conferral of title

The University may, by letter of appointment, confer the title of Emeritus Professor or Emeritus Educator on former professors or educators of the University who have rendered distinguished academic service to the University.

4. Status of title

A person who is conferred with the title of Emeritus Professor or Educator is -
  1. accorded the rank of the title for purposes of courtesy and on ceremonial occasions; and
  2. a member of the University.

5. Term of appointment

Subject to regulation 21, a person will be conferred the title of Emeritus Professor or Emeritus Educator for life.

Division 2 - the Vice-Chancellor's Fellow

6. Conferral of title

The University may, by letter of appointment, confer the title of the Vice-Chancellor's Fellow on persons:
  1. conferred with a title of the University; and
  2. who undertake a thought leadership role in an area of strategic importance for the University.

7. Status of title

A person who is conferred with the title of the Vice-Chancellor's Fellow is accorded the rank of the title for purposes of courtesy and on ceremonial occasions.

8. Term of appointment

Subject to regulation 21, a person will be conferred the title of the Vice-Chancellor's Fellow for the term specified in the letter of appointment.

Division 3 - Distinguished University Fellow, Honorary Professor or Honorary Educator and Honorary Fellow

9. Conferral of title

The University may, by letter of appointment, confer the title of:
  1. Distinguished University Fellow on former members of staff who have rendered distinguished service to the University;
  2. Honorary Professor or Honorary Educator on former members of staff who have rendered conspicuous academic service to the University;
  3. Honorary Fellow on former members of staff who have rendered significant service to the University.

10. Status of title

A person who is conferred with a title under this division is accorded the rank of the title for purposes of courtesy and on ceremonial occasions.

11. Term of appointment

Subject to regulation 21, a person is conferred a title under this division for the term specified in the letter of appointment.

Division 4 - Adjunct Professor or Adjunct Educator, Adjunct Associate Professor or Adjunct Associate Educator and Adjunct Fellow

12. Conferral of title

The University may, by letter of appointment, confer the title of:
  1. Adjunct Professor or Adjunct Educator on persons who are individuals of distinction and outstanding leaders in their field;
  2. Adjunct Associate Professor or Adjunct Associate Educator on persons who are experts and leaders in their field;
  3. Adjunct Fellow on persons who are experts in their field.

13. Status of title

A person who is conferred with a title under this division is accorded the rank of the title for purposes of courtesy and on ceremonial occasions.

14. Term of appointment

Subject to regulations 20 and 21, a person is conferred a title under this division for the term specified in the letter of appointment not exceeding three years.

Division 4 - Distinguished Visiting Professor or Distinguished Visiting Educator, Visiting Professor or Visiting Educator and Visiting Fellow

15. Conferral of title

The University may, by letter of appointment, confer the title of:
  1. Distinguished Visiting Professor or Distinguished Visiting Educator on persons who have achieved international or national eminence in their field and hold or have held a senior academic position at another tertiary or equivalent body;
  2. Visiting Professor or Visiting Educator on persons who hold a senior academic position at another tertiary or equivalent body;
  3. Visiting Fellow on persons who hold an academic position at another tertiary or equivalent body.

16. Status of title

A person who is conferred with a title under this division is accorded the rank of the title for purposes of courtesy and on ceremonial occasions.

17. Term of appointment

Subject to regulations 20 and 21, a person is conferred a title under this division for the term specified in the letter of appointment not exceeding three years.

Division 5 - General

18. Recommendation and approval

The process for the recommendation and approval of the conferment of a title are as specified in the University's policies and procedures.

19. Conditions

The conferral of a title on a person is subject to any conditions specified in the letter of appointment.

20. Renewal

The University may renew the appointment in accordance with the University's policies and procedures.

21. Revocation

The University may at any time revoke the title in accordance with the University's policies and procedures.

22. Not an employee

(1) A person is not, by reason of the conferment of a title, an employee of the University or entitled to remuneration.

Part 3 - Honorary Degrees

23. Honorary degrees

(1) The honorary degrees which may be conferred by the Council are -
  1. Doctor of Letters honoris causa (HonDLitt);
  2. Doctor of Science honoris causa (HonDSc);
  3. Doctor of Laws honoris causa (HonLLD);
  4. Doctor of the University honoris causa (HonDUniv);
  5. Master of Arts honoris causa (HonMA).

24. Nomination and approval

(1) A nomination for the conferring of an honorary degree on a person who has achieved eminence in an academic field must be made by the Academic Board and approved by the Council.
(2) A nomination for the conferring of an honorary degree on a person who has provided distinguished service to the University or the community must be made by a member of the Council to the Chancellor and approved by the Council.

25. Confidentiality

(1) All persons associated with the nomination and approval process in respect of an honorary degree must treat the matter in confidence.
(2) Without limiting sub regulation (1) -
  1. nominations for the conferring of an honorary degree must be submitted in confidence without the knowledge of the nominated person; however, the nomination is not invalid only because the nominated person becomes aware of the nomination; and
  2. the person nominated must not be notified until the award of the honorary degree has been approved by the Council.

26. Ceremony

An honorary degree testamur must be presented at an appropriate ceremony.