Open Letter to Senate

An Open Letter to Senate and the Honorary Degrees and Fellowships Committee:

The Women and Equity Committee of the University of Winnipeg Faculty Association (WE Committee) is writing this letter in regard to recent concerns over the conferring of honorary degrees.  Of particular concern to the committee are the lack of clarity in selection criteria/process and the omission of student input.

Recently, at the October 17, 2010, Autumn Convocation, an honorary degree was bestowed upon the Honourable Vic Toews. This incident serves to highlight the two concerns presented in the preceding paragraph. As noted in the minutes of the November 17, 2010, Senate Committee meeting, students held a “peaceful protest” outside of the Duckworth Centre. The valedictorian, selected to represent her fellow students, made her opposition to this recipient clear to those in attendance at the Autumn Convocation as well as to the media. The disappointment of the Women and Equity Committee arises from the Senate’s failure to address these concerns. Though the protest was noted in the Senate meeting minutes, no resolution was offered.

When the Women and Equity Committee attempted to gather information about the selection process for granting honorary degrees, only limited information could be found. It is clear that nominations are reviewed by the Senate’s Honorary Degrees and Fellowships Committee. Apart from this committee’s review of nominees, the selection criteria are not evident. The WE committee suggests that the Honorary Degrees and Fellowships Committee, which is charged with the responsibility of selecting honorary degree recipients, should be comprised of faculty, student and community membership who are actively engaged in decision making, it should not consist only of community representatives on the Board of Regents.  Additionally, we suggest that sitting politicians be excluded, but that those who are retired should be eligible. Certainly the honorary degree recipients should be individuals who reflect the values of a liberal arts university.  It is our opinion that those individuals who have a tradition of endorsing equity and diversity, in the university community and beyond, are those who deserve this honour from the university Senate. Thus, the Women and Equity Committee suggest the Honorary Degrees and Fellowships Committee use clear selection criteria that are openly communicated and meaningfully involve students and the wider community in the selection process. Providing information about selection criteria and creating diversity within this committee will go far in addressing the concerns of students and the community in the conferring of honorary degrees.

Sincerely,

UWFA Women and Equity Committee