As Carleton University’s Senate discusses whether to strip Myanmar politician Aung San Suu Kyi of her honorary degree, it begs the question: what policies do universities have in place for granting or revoking honorary degrees?
An honorary degree is an academic degree awarded or presented to a distinguished persona for his/her contributions to certain causes or issues in society.
Suu Kyi was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by Carleton in 2011 for her contribution to promoting democracy and international human rights, according a press release by the university at the time.
Last month, the House of Commons revoked Suu Kyi’s honorary Canadian citizenship, which was granted to her in 2007. This unanimous move from the House of Commons came after Suu Kyi did not publicly condemn the genocide of Rohingya Muslim peoples being carried out by the Myanmar military under her watch.
The University of Toronto (U of T), Memorial University and Queen’s University have also awarded Suu Kyi with an honorary degree but each said they’re not considering rescinding the degree from her.
According to the Carleton Senate’s Honorary Degree Policy, under exceptional circumstances, the Honorary Degrees Committee has the right to review and recommend the rescinding of an Honorary Degree if the individual it is conferred upon, behaves in a fashion that causes “significant concern.”
U of T’s Committee for Honorary Degrees, details its functions as only to “recognize extraordinary achievement in Canada or abroad; in community, national or international involvement.” No apparent provision for revoking honorary degrees is visible in its policy.
Queen’s University and Memorial University also don’t have policies on revoking honorary degrees.
Like Carleton University, a few other Canadian universities and colleges such as University of Regina and Humber College have made room for rescission of an honorary degree.
Humber College has a policy in which an honorary degree awarded by the institution to a person may be revoked if the person is found to be convicted of a criminal offence or engaged in conduct that undermines the credibility of the college.
At the University of Regina, alongside rescission of an honorary degree, the Senate also holds the power to restore the honorary degree, after the recipient defends their position and after the Council deems is appropriate, to any person deprived of their degree, distinction and/or privileges by rescission of the honorary degree.
If Carleton University revokes Suu Kyi’s honorary degree, this will not be the first time it has been done. After updating its honorary degree policy in February, Carleton revoked Ottawa-based doctor Norman Barwin’s honorary degree in June.
The honorary degree, which was awarded to him in 2009, was rescinded following the announcement of a class-action lawsuit against him, involving 150 of his former patients who alleged malpractice at his former fertility clinic.
Carleton’s Senate met on Oct. 5 to discuss whether to revoke Suu Kyi of her honorary degree but will not reveal its decision until the next meeting on Oct. 19.
