UConn Could Revoke Cosby's Honorary Degree Wednesday

Storrs, CT — Bill Cosby's honorary degree from the University of Connecticut could be revoked by Wednesday.

The UConn Board of Trustees has included the matter on its Wednesday agenda. The meeting is slated for 9:45 a.m.

UConn has never revoked an honorary degree, university spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said.

An honorary degree — doctor of fine arts — was conferred upon Cosby by UConn in May 1996. Cosby has since been engaged in a legal battle over his alleged sexual misconduct.

"Since the conferring of this honorary degree, Mr. Cosby has admitted, in sworn dispositions, that he engaged in conduct that is incongruent with the values of the University of Connecticut," UConn Provost Mun Choi said. "The university respects the principles of due process and Mr. Cosby's right to a fair and public trial on the criminal charged against him. But the conduct he admitted ... provided compelling reasons for the university to consider the revocation of his honorary degree."

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On March 30, UConn's undergraduate student government passed a resolution asking for the degree to be taken back. In May, the university senate endorsed that resolution.

"The consensus of the UConn community and the recommendation of the administration is that the board of trustees should revoke Mr. Cosby's honorary degree," Choi said.

He continued, "The University of Connecticut, and all institutions of higher education," must work diligently to prevent sexual assault and to support care for victims.

Over the past couple of years, UConn has revised its sexual assault policies to make it easier for victims to report crimes and to train students and staff members in intervention and recognition when it comes to sexual misconduct.

Photo credit: Michael O'Brien via flickr creative commons