AC Committee on Honorary Degrees & Major Awards

 ACCHDMA Meeting Schedule 2025/2026

The 2024/25 call for UCD Honorary Degrees is now closed.

ACCHDMA Procedures

• ACCHDMA Procedures
• Honorary Degrees Nomination Form 2024-25
• Ulysses Medal Nomination Form

• The President will present candidates for the award of an honorary degree to the Committee, with supporting documentation including the biography and achievements of the candidate and the rationale for the award.
  
  
• Where representations are made to the President, from within our without the University, that an individual merits the award of an honorary degree, in order to protect the confidentiality of the process, the President will not indicate whether or not that individual will be or has been considered by the Committee.
  
  
• The proceedings of the Committee are strictly confidential.
  
  
• The candidate must not be approached unless and until the Committee recommends the award of an honorary degree.
  
  
• Where the Committee recommends the award of an honorary degree, the President, or a member of the University acting on behalf of the President, will approach the candidate to determine if they will accept the degree.
  
  
• Where a candidate recommended by the Committee is willing and in a position to accept the degree, the University will confer the degree.
  
  
• Where a candidate indicates that they will accept an honorary degree and is to be conferred, their candidacy will be brought to the attention of the next meeting of Academic Council and the next meeting of Governing Authority as an item for noting.
  
  
• The name of a candidate recommended by the Committee for the award of an honorary degree shall not be released unless and until the candidate has indicated they will accept the degree, and then only on the direction of the President.
  
  
• Academic Council Committee on Honorary Degrees and Major Awards will retain oversight of the approval process for the University’s major public awards, which include the Foundation Day Medal; Ulysses Medal; Honorary Doctorates and College/School Medals.

• ACCHDMA Terms of Reference