The history, philosophy and etiquette of honorary academic awards.
14 articles
When did universities begin conferring degrees without coursework? The documentary trail runs through the late medieval and early modern period, and it is more colourful than expe…
For the sake of honour — three words that define what the award is and, just as importantly, what it is not. A close reading of the phrase behind the ceremony. What separates a ge…
Style guides, university statutes and the recipients themselves all handle this differently. What the conventions say, and why the careful ones avoid the title in professional con…
Universities occasionally take back an honour they once conferred. The practice is rare, controversial — and an important window into what the award actually represents. Selection…
Commencement stages attract famous faces, and critics ask whether visibility has displaced merit. The debate is older than social media, and both sides have a point. History also…
Where a genuine honour is conferred, a counterfeit market sells imitations with similar vocabulary. Why a purchasable honour is a contradiction that cannot be dressed up. What sep…
