To provide operational procedures by which Otago Polytechnic confers honorary degrees and recognition awards.
The relevant Otago Polytechnic policies, procedures and guidelines and the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST) policies, procedures and guidelines as per the Otago Polytechnic Transitioning (Grandparenting) From NZIST Policy.
Part 8, Sections 8.6 and 8.7 of the Te Kawa Maiorooro | Educational Regulatory Framework (TKM).
To provide operational procedures by which Otago Polytechnic confers honorary degrees and recognition awards.
1. Otago Polytechnic shall establish an Honours Committee which will make recommendations to Council as to the conferring of
Emeritus Professor (includes Associate Professor and Professor)
Honorary Member of Otago Polytechnic
Emeritus Member of Otago Polytechnic
Honorary degrees.
1.1. The Otgo Polytechnic Honours Committee shall have as members:
Executive Director
Academic Committee Chair or nominee
An appointee of the Executive Director appropriate to the nominee under consideration for the conferring of an honour
Te Kaihāpai
The Convenor of the Staff Subcommittee
The Chair or nominee shall Chair all meetings of the Otago Polytechnic Honours Committee.
1.2. The Otago Polytechnic Honours Committee shall consider nominations and make recommendations to Council, under the approved procedures and criteria, for the conferring of an Honorary Degree or Recognition Award consistent with the following Otago Polytechnic criteria:
2. Emeritus Professor
The award of the title Emeritus Professor for consideration may be granted to a retiring/retired professor who:
2.1 Held the title of Professor on retirement.
2.2 Has made an outstanding/significant contribution to the life and well-being of Otago Polytechnic over and above normal duties, or
2.3. Has undertaken nationally or internationally respected quality teaching or research, or
2.4. Has demonstrated innovative and strategically important leadership, or
2.5 Has developed a dimension of Otago Polytechnic in a new way, or
2.6 Has made a significant contribution on behalf of Otago Polytechnic to industry, business, and trades or professions on committees which Otago Polytechnic serves.
3. Honorary Member
The award of Honorary Member of the Otago Polytechnic for consideration may be granted to any person who:
3.1. Is not, nor has been a permanent employee of Otago Polytechnic, and
3.2. Has made an outstanding contribution to the leadership or well-being of Otago Polytechnic through one of Otago Polytechnic committees, or a section of Otago Polytechnic, or
3.3. Has been a major benefactor to Otago Polytechnic, or
3.4. Has made a distinguished contribution to Otago Polytechnic as a visitor, or
3.5. Has developed a dimension of Otago Polytechnic in a new way.
4. Emeritus Member
The award of Emeritus Member of the Otago Polytechnic for consideration may be granted to any person who:
4.1. Has been and is no longer a permanent employee of Otago Polytechnic, and
4.2. Has undertaken nationally or internationally respected quality teaching or research, or
4.3. Has demonstrated innovative and strategically important leadership, or
4.4. Has made an outstanding contribution to the life and well-being of Otago Polytechnic over and above normal duties, or
4.5. Has developed a dimension of Otago Polytechnic in a new way, or
4.6. Has made a significant contribution on behalf of Otago Polytechnic to industry, business, and trades or professions on committees which Otago Polytechnic serves.
5. Honorary Degrees
The award of an Honorary degree (from Otago Polytechnic’s suite of local degrees) for consideration may be granted to any person who:
5.1. Is not a current permanent employee of Otago Polytechnic, and
5.2. Has made an outstanding professional contribution to one of Otago Polytechnic committees, or a section of Otago Polytechnic, or
5.3. Has made an outstanding contribution to the wider community.
6. Specific Procedures
6.1. All communications and enquiries about honorary awards should be addressed to the Chief Executive.
6.2. Nominations for the award of Emeritus Professor are made to the Chief Executive who will bring the nomination to the Otago Polytechnic Honours Committee for consideration.
6.3. Nominations for the conferring of an honorary award may be made by any two (2) persons, one (1) of whom shall be a member of Academic Committee and shall be made in confidence to the Chief Executive who shall bring the nomination to the Otago Polytechnic Honours Committee for consideration.
6.4. Each nomination shall be accompanied by a statement of the nominee’s background in relation to the stated criteria for the award.
6.5. The Otago Polytechnic Honours Committee shall consider nominations and make recommendations to Council for the conferring of an award, and where appropriate the Deputy Executive Director will consult with TKM.
6.6. Each honorary award shall be conferred by Council with any such decision to be made under approved procedures and criteria, for the conferring honorary degrees and recognition awards.
6.7. Any communication with proposed recipients of honorary degrees and recognition awards shall be conducted in confidence through the Office of the Chief Executive.
6.8. In exceptional circumstances, Otago Polytechnic have the authority to revoke any honorary degree or recognition award if deemed appropriate.
6.9. All honorary degrees and recognition awards will be conferred on recipients at Otago Polytechnic graduation ceremonies, or at another appropriate ceremony within three (3) years of the award being approved by the Council.
6.10. Recipients of Honorary Degrees and Recognition Awards will be entitled to:
a) Use of Otago Polytechnic facilities generally through the office of the Chief Executive.
b) Use of Otago Polytechnic’s library facilities.
c) Negotiated use of email facilities (former kaimahi only).
d) In the case of Emeritus Professor use the title.
e) In the case of Honorary degrees:
Wear the academic regalia for an honorary degree.
Use the award title using the following format Approved Degree Abbreviation (Honorary, Otago Polytechnic) e.g., Master of Fine Arts (MFA) (Honorary, Otago Polytechnic).
6.11. The Otago Polytechnic Honours Committee is responsible for considering nominations and for making recommendations to the Council for the granting of any honorary degree or recognition award.
7. Posthumous Awards – refer to TKM, Posthumous Awards, Section 7.7.
Emeritus Professor
Prof Khyla Russell – 2016
Dr Leoni Schmidt - 2024
Emeritus Associate Professor
Dr Linda Robertson - 2021
Emeritus Member of Otago Polytechnic
Ron McLeod – 2005
Rosemary Caulton – 2008
Dr Robin Day - 2011
Bridie Lonie – 2014
Dr Maxine Alterio – 2014
Ali’itasi (Tasi) Lemalu - 2017
Dr Jane Malthus - 2019
Honorary Degrees
Graham Crombie – Master of Design Enterprise - 2010
Margarita Robertson – Bachelor of Design (Fashion) - 2012
Huata Holmes – Master of Professional Practice - 2013
Michel Tuffery – Master of Fine Arts – 2014
Philip Ker – Doctor of Professional Practice - 2019
Policy Version: V10: Previously Coded: CP0006.