Honorary Award Procedure

Intent

This Procedure details the eligibility criteria and process for nomination, selection, notification and revocation of honorary awards of James Cook University (JCU; the University).

Scope

This Procedure applies to members of the Convocation who wish to nominate a person for an honorary award of the University and to members of Council and its committees, staff, students, the general public and organisations external to the University who seek to have an Honorary Award reviewed.

Definitions

Except where otherwise defined in this procedure, definitions for terms used in this procedure are located in the Award Finalisation and Graduation Policy or the Policy Glossary.

Convocation: consists of the following:

• all graduates of the University and all graduates of the University’s predecessor institutions;
• all graduates of JCU College and past students who have completed a non-award short program;
• all recipients of Honorary Awards of James Cook University or any of its predecessor institutions;
• all members and past members of the Council of the University and its predecessor institutions;
• graduates of the University of Queensland who, while undergraduates, were enrolled for at least three years at the University College of Townsville;
• all members of the academic staff and professional and technical staff of the University who have requested to be members of the Convocation and have been employed by the University for at least two years continuously at the time of the request; and
• such other persons who have accepted an invitation from the Council to become members of the Convocation.

Distinguished: very successful, authoritative, and commanding great respect.

Eminent: highly prominent and respected within a particular sphere; standing well above others in some quality or position.

Honorary: conferred as an honour, without the usual requirements or functions.

Introduction

The categories of Honorary Awards of the University are:

i. Honorary Doctor of the University

This award is conferred upon an individual who has made exceptional, sustained contributions to their field of endeavour or to improving society, and whose achievements align with and reflect JCU’s mission and values.

ii. Chancellor’s Medal

This award is granted by the Chancellor, and honours former professional and technical staff and former Council members who have made an exceptional impact on JCU and whose achievements reflect JCU’s mission and values.

iii. Fellow of the University

This award is granted by the Chancellor, and recognises exceptional volunteers and donors to the university for their outstanding service to the university, philanthropic efforts, leadership in the community, or other contributions to JCU and its programs, staff, and students, and that align with JCU’s mission and values.

Procedure

1. Confidentiality

The Honorary Award process is strictly confidential. A person nominated for an Honorary Award must not be consulted beforehand, nor at any time prior to the Council's determination, and all deliberations, investigations and recommendations relating to the nomination must be treated as strictly confidential by all persons involved.

2. Eligibility

2.1 Honorary Doctor of the University

Candidates for this award must demonstrate all or most of the following attributes or achievements:

• Success and Reputation: Achievement of exceptional success, recognition or distinction in their respective fields, and impeccable reputation and standing in their field or within society more broadly. Their accomplishments should be widely recognised and respected by peers and the public alike. The candidate would raise the standing of JCU by their association with us;
• Leadership and Influence: Demonstrate exemplary leadership qualities and have had a significant impact on their field or community. They may have served as influential leaders, role models, or catalysts for positive change;
• Contribution to Knowledge or Society: Made substantial contributions to the advancement of knowledge, innovation, culture, or society. Their work may have led to significant discoveries, advancements, or improvements that benefit humanity;
• Engagement: Enriched the communities they served by addressing shared objectives and challenges, building trust and leveraging collective expertise;
• Ethical and Moral Integrity: Uphold high ethical and moral standards in their professional and personal conduct. Their actions should align with the values of JCU. Nominees must have upheld the ethical principles as outlined in the Staff Code of Conduct and Public Sector Ethics Act 1994 (Qld), and where relevant the legal and statutory duties applicable to directors under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and common law;
• Alignment with Institutional Mission: Achievements and values should align with the mission and goals of JCU;
• Contribution to Education and Research: Made significant contributions to education and research, particularly if their work has had a lasting impact on the academic community;
• Diversity and Inclusion: JCU seeks to acknowledge the exceptional achievements of candidates from diverse backgrounds and who represent a variety of perspectives and experiences.

2.1.1 Where a nominee is a former staff member or former Council member, a minimum two-year period is required between cessation of employment or Council membership and the granting of this award.

2.1.2 For former Academic staff and JCU Alumni, Honorary Doctorates will only be considered in relation to extraordinary achievements beyond the scope of that which has already been recognised by another type of JCU award or appointment, such as Emeritus Professor appointment or Outstanding Alumni award. Achievements on par with the landmark native title work of Eddie Koiki Mabo are that which would be considered extraordinary for the purposes of this award.

2.2 Chancellor’s Medal

Candidates for this award must demonstrate all or most of the following attributes or achievements:

• Leadership and Influence: Demonstrate exemplary leadership qualities and have had a significant impact on their field or community. They may have served as influential leaders, role models, or catalysts for positive change;
• Contribution to Knowledge or Society: Made substantial contributions to the advancement of knowledge, innovation, culture, or society. Their work may have led to significant discoveries, advancements, or improvements that benefit humanity;
• Engagement: Enriched the communities they served by addressing shared objectives and challenges, building trust and leveraging collective expertise;
• Ethical and Moral Integrity: Uphold high ethical and moral standards in their professional and personal conduct. Their actions should align with the values of JCU. Nominees must have upheld the ethical principles as outlined in the Staff Code of Conduct and Public Sector Ethics Act 1994 (Qld), and the legal and statutory duties applicable to directors under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and common law;
• Alignment with Institutional Mission: Achievements and values should align with the mission and goals of JCU;
• Diversity and Inclusion: JCU seeks to acknowledge the exceptional achievements of candidates from diverse backgrounds and who represent a variety of perspectives and experiences.

Where a nominee is a former staff member or Council member, a minimum two-year period between cessation of employment or Council membership and the granting of this award is required.

2.3 Fellow of the University

Candidates for this award must satisfy the eligibility requirements of one of the following categories:

• Donors: individuals who make a philanthropic donation to the University which results in significant transformational change that could not have been achieved without that individual’s support. A minimum donation amount is not associated with this award, however, it is noted that transformational change generally only comes with the highest level of donation category at the time of the award.
• Volunteers: demonstrated exceptional long-term commitment to volunteering in support of the university’s values and mission, and to the benefit of JCU, its programs, staff and students.

Nominees must also have upheld the ethical principles as outlined in the Staff Code of Conduct and Public Sector Ethics Act 1994 (Qld), and the legal and statutory duties applicable to directors under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and common law.

2.4 Other than in exceptional circumstances of which Council will be the sole judge, ineligible candidates for all Honorary Award categories include:

• current JCU staff;
• current JCU Council members;
• sitting or former politicians;
• self-nominees; and
• individuals who have a direct and beneficial personal or financial relationship with JCU.

3. Nomination and Selection

3.1 Nomination

3.1.1 Each year the Secretariat, in conjunction with Advancement, will issue a call for nominations for all Honorary Award categories.

3.1.2 Members of Convocation may nominate eligible individuals by completing the relevant form. The nomination must be signed by three members of Convocation, one of whom must be the relevant Deputy Vice Chancellor.

3.1.3 Nominators must declare any actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest in relation to the nomination in accordance with the University’s Conflicts of Interests Policy – University Council and its Committees, or Conflict of Interest Policy, as applicable.

4. Consideration

4.1 When considering a nomination for an Honorary Award, excluding the Fellow of the University award, financial contributions or endowments to the University may be taken into account, however such contributions or endowments alone are not sufficient basis for an award to be granted.

4.2 The consideration process may take as long as is necessary for the University to be satisfied that the nominee should be granted an Honorary Award, and is supported where necessary by the Secretariat.

4.3 The University Executive will:

i. determine the extent to which the nomination meets the criteria specified for the applicable honorary award; and

ii. refer all nominations that meet the criteria and which are endorsed by the University Executive to Council, together with any other comments in relation to the overall merits of the nomination.

4.4 The Vice Chancellor, on behalf of the University Executive, may make written and/or oral submissions to Council regarding any Honorary Award nomination.

4.5 For all nominations endorsed by University Executive, the Secretariat will:

i. undertake appropriate and sufficient due diligence to confirm the accuracy of the information contained in the nomination, and to identify any undisclosed information that may be of relevance to the nomination to ensure there are no known reasons why the proposed honorary award should not be made;

ii. ensure the nomination aligns with the University’s mission and values;

iii. undertake a risk assessment to identify any risks associated with the nomination, in line with the University’s Risk Management Framework; and

iv. consider whether the nomination promotes the University’s gender equity and diversity agenda, or represents the diversity of the communities in which the University operates.

4.6 If the Secretariat believes the proposal is appropriate and justified, it will seek the confidential views of Council members in relation to any known reasons why the proposed Honorary Award should not be made. The Secretariat shall consider these views and submit their recommendations to Council for final determination.

4.7 Council will consider the recommendations of the Secretariat, and may undertake further due diligence or investigation into nominees at their discretion, prior to determining the outcome of all Honorary Award nominations.

5. Notification

5.1 If Council resolves to grant an honorary award, the Chancellor will contact the nominee to determine whether the award is accepted.

5.2 If the recipient accepts the award, a formal letter of offer will be made to the recipient by the Chancellor. The names of recipients will not be released until after they have accepted the offer of award.

5.3 The Secretariat will:

i. inform the Special Events and Protocol Manager of the approved recipients so that the Honorary Award may be conferred at the next graduation ceremony.

ii. inform the nominators of the outcome of their nomination.

iii. inform the Vice Chancellor’s office so that citations can be developed for each relevant Graduation Ceremony.

6. Conferral

6.1 Honorary awards will be conferred at the next graduation ceremony, except in extenuating circumstances, for example serious ill-health where officers of the University may visit the recipient to confer the award. Honorary Awards are not conferred in absentia.

6.2 The bestowal of an Honorary Award shall be evidenced as follows:

• Honorary Doctor of the University – a testamur issued under the Seal of the University
• Chancellor’s Medal – a medal and certificate
• Fellow of the University – a medal and certificate

6.3 Award recipients may use the following official post-nominal abbreviations:

• Honorary Doctor of the University – HonDUniv
• Chancellor’s Medal – not applicable
• Fellow of the University – Fellow JCU

6.4 The bestowal of any Honorary Award of the University shall entitle the recipient to:

• membership of Convocation;
• the right to participate in ceremonial occasions, with:
  1. recipients of the Honorary Doctor of the University entitled to wear the approved JCU Academic Dress gifted by the University;
  2. recipients of the Chancellor’s Award or Fellow of the University invited to wear either business attire or the academic dress of their alma mater, if applicable (JCU Academic Dress is not provided for these awards);
• the right to be addressed as Doctor when on a JCU campus and/or undertaking JCU business (for Honorary Doctorate recipients only); and
• the receipt of reasonable travel-related expenses to attend the graduation ceremony.

6.5 If the nominee passes away after the outcome of a nomination is determined, the award may be conferred posthumously with a representative accepting the award on behalf of the deceased.

6.6 Consideration of nominees for Honorary Awards who have died prior to the nomination being made would be an extraordinary exception and solely at Council’s discretion. Honorary Award nominations for a deceased person would only be considered for those rare individuals whose imprint on the University is of great and enduring significance, and as a mark of the University’s greatest respect for the person’s legacy, contributions and eminence.

7. Revocation of an Honorary Award

7.1 Council may, at its sole discretion, revoke an Honorary Award to mitigate any reputational risks if, in its view, a recipient’s continued association with the University would bring the University into disrepute. It is acknowledged that information from the past may subsequently come to light, or events may occur in the future which call into question the University’s decision to honour an individual.

7.2 Such new information may relate to past or current events or behaviours involving the recipient which may:

• render the original criteria for making the award invalid; or
• not align with the University’s values and mission; or
• significantly damage the University’s reputation.

7.3 Whilst this list is not exhaustive, examples of actions and/or behaviour that may trigger such a review include if the recipient:

• has been convicted of a serious criminal offence, or the subject of any adverse finding in civil proceedings; or
• has been the subject of adverse findings in disciplinary proceedings by regulatory authorities or professional bodies; or
• has been dismissed from a position of trust, or there is evidence of serious misconduct in their employment; or
• has acted in a way that fundamentally contradicts the ethical principles outlined in the Staff Code of Conduct and Public Sector Ethics Act 1994 (Qld); or
• any commentary in the media, including social media, that is considered abhorrent in the light of contemporary societal values, for example hate speech.

7.4 Requests for a review of an Honorary Award may be submitted by members of Council or its Committees, staff, students, the general public or organisations external to the University. Anonymous requests will not be accepted. Such requests must be marked confidential and submitted in writing to the University Secretary via email to universitysecretary@jcu.edu.au and include a supporting statement and accompanying evidence setting out the grounds upon which the proposed revocation is considered to be warranted.

7.5 The University Secretary will inform the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of a request for review as soon as possible and the holders of these positions will collectively determine if there is a prima facie case for review of the Honorary Award, in accordance with this procedure and the criteria for the award.

7.5.1 Where it is determined there is no prima facie case, no further action will be taken other than to communicate this to the party, or parties, who requested the review in writing.

7.5.2 Where it is determined there is a case for review, further due diligence by the Secretariat will be undertaken, which may involve taking further advice from the nominators, an investigation, probity and verification checks.

7.6 Council will review the supporting statement, accompanying evidence, and any further advice arising from the conduct of further investigations and checks. In forming a judgement, Council will take into account the societal values and context at the time the award was conferred and the period from which the additional information dates.

7.6.1 If Council determines that the recipient has no case to answer, no further action will be taken other than to communicate this to the party or parties who requested the review in writing.

7.6.2 If Council determines there is sufficient evidence to warrant revocation, in the interests of natural justice and procedural fairness, the recipient (or the nearest relative of the award recipient if they are deceased) will be afforded the opportunity to make a submission with regard to the proposed revocation.

7.7 Having reviewed any submissions made by the recipient (or the nearest relative of the recipient if they are deceased) Council will make a determination on whether the proposed revocation is warranted. If necessary, Council may request additional information or explore the matter further, as appropriate, before a formal resolution is made.

7.8 If Council’s decision is to revoke the Honorary Award, the recipient (or the nearest relative of the award recipient if they are deceased) will be informed in writing by the Chancellor, outlining the grounds for revocation, the rationale for the decision and the outcome. The party or parties who requested the review will also be informed.

7.9 The decision of Council is final and there is no right of appeal.

7.10 If there is to be any public statement on the revocation, this will be handled by the Head, Media and Communications, in conjunction with the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor.

7.11 Confidentiality will be maintained as far as possible by all involved in the process, while it is ongoing and beyond, particularly if it is determined there is no case to answer.

Related policy instruments

Award Finalisation and Graduation Policy

Conflict of Interest Policy

Conflicts of Interests Policy – University Council and its Committees

Staff Code of Conduct

Schedules/Appendices

Nil

Administration

NOTE:  Printed copies of this procedure are uncontrolled, and currency can only be assured at the time of printing.

Approval Details

Revision History