Honorary Degrees Committee
Honorary degrees have been awarded by the ANU since 1951.
Chair: Professor the Hon Gareth Evans AO QC, Chancellor
Secretary: Jan O'Connor, Head, Governance Office
Role and functions
The Honorary Degrees Committee is a Committee of the Council. The membership is as described in the Honorary Degrees Rules (PDF, 481KB).
The role of the Committee is to invite persons, within the terms of the Honorary Degrees Rules, to accept nomination for honorary degrees and to recommend the names of those who accept nomination to the Council for admission.
A proposal for admission to an honorary degree may be adopted by the Committee only if it is supported by at least 80 per cent of the members present at the meeting.
A proposal for the award of an honorary degree must be considered highly confidential until the Council resolves to admit the person concerned to the degree.
If the Committee decides not to accept a proposal, the Head, Governance Office must inform the proposers accordingly.
Proposals must accord with the Guidelines for Proposals for an Honorary Degree.
Quorum: 8
2012 meeting dates
| Meeting date | Deadline for proposal |
|---|---|
| Thursday, 22 March 2012 | 1 March |
| Thursday, 26 July 2012 | 5 July |
| Thursday, 6 December 2012 | 15 November |
Current members
| Category | Occupant | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Chancellor | Professor the Hon Gareth Evans AO QC | Ex Officio |
| Pro-Chancellor | Ms Ilana Atlas | Ex Officio |
| Vice-Chancellor | Professor Ian Young | Ex Officio |
| Deputy Vice-Chancellor | Professor Lawrence Cram | Ex Officio |
| Member of Council, appointed by Council but not a member of staff of, or a student at, the University. | Dr Vince FitzGerald | 30 June 2012 |
| Member of Council, appointed by Council but not a member of staff of, or a student at, the University. | Ms Robin Hughes AO | 30 June 2012 |
| Member of Council, appointed by Council but not a member of staff of, or a student at, the University. | Ms Martine Letts | 30 June 2012 |
| 1 member of the academic staff of the Institute of Advanced Studies appointed by Council on the recommendation of the VC after appropriate consultation. | Professor Susanne von Caemmerer | 29 September 2012 |
| 1 member of the academic staff of The Faculties appointed by Council on the recommendation of the VC after appropriate consultation. | Professor Nicholas Peterson | 29 September 2012 |
| Either the President of the Postgraduate and Research Students' Association Inc. or the President of the Australian National University Students' Association, appointed by the Vice-Chancellor after consultation with both Presidents. | Mr Areti Metuamate | 12 May 2012 |
With some exceptions, the Honorary Degrees Rules provide that the Vice-Chancellor may appoint an alternate member when a particular member is unable to attend.
