Policy on the Recognition of Service, Donations, Significant Contributions to the University or Outstanding Personal Achievement

Approving Authority:	Council
Establishment Date:	26 August 1994
Date Last Amendment:	19 April 2007
Nature of Amendment:	Deletion of references to Distinguished Service Award
Date Last Reviewed:	n/a
Publication Reference:	n/a
Contact Officer:	Awards Committee Secretary

Preamble This is a policy statement on forms of recognition which can be used to acknowledge contributions made to the University or to the public by individuals or other organisations. The award of the titles of Visiting Scholar or Honorary Fellow, academic status titles, or the Convocation Medal is governed by separate rules.
1.	Recognition of Service, Donations, Significant Contributions to the University or Outstanding Personal Achievement The Council supports the recognition of personal or financial contributions to the University, outstanding achievements or service by members of the University and outstanding service to the public. (a) A proposal for the award of recognition by the University shall be subject to approval by the Council, except in the case of the naming a grant, fellowship, scholarship, prize, or award established by or through the University, or an item of equipment, approval of which will normally be delegated to the Academic Senate. (b) The Council (or the Academic Senate as indicated in (a) above) shall establish appropriate conditions in relation to the award of recognition. 1.1 Personal Service to the University, Outstanding Performance by Members of Staff or Service to the Public by Individuals The Council may recognise the outstanding service or achievements of individuals associated with the University or outstanding service to the public by members of the community. The following awards or forms of recognition may be approved: (a) award of an honorary degree; (b) award of the title of Emeritus Professor; (c) award of the title Companion of the University; (d) the naming of an infrastructure item (e.g. a building, facility or area, or an item of equipment); (e) the naming of a grant, fellowship, award, prize or scholarship established by or through the University; (f) the naming of a Personal Chair or academic post; (g) other forms of recognition deemed appropriate. 1.2 Donations, Gifts and Other Contributions The Council may recognise benefactors who have supported the University with donations of money, non-monetary gifts, bequests or similar contributions. It may refuse to accept such donations, gifts or other contributions if it believes that the nature of the benefactor or of the particular donation, gift or contribution is such that acceptance would compromise the integrity or reputation of the University in any way. The following forms of recognition may be approved: (a) the naming of an infrastructure item (e.g. a building, facility or area, or an item of equipment) (b) the naming of a grant, fellowship, award, prize or scholarship established by or through the University; (c) the naming of a Personal Chair or academic post; (d) other forms of recognition deemed appropriate. 1.3. Recognition by the Flinders University Foundation The Flinders University Foundation was established to attract financial support, donations, gifts, bequests, endowments, trusts and other forms of assistance to the University. The Foundation may use these resources to support the development of the University. Where a donation of money, bequest or contribution is made through the Flinders University Foundation the following forms of recognition may be accorded in addition to any other relevant forms of recognition identified in this policy. 1.3.1 Foundation Titles The Foundation may award one of the following titles: "governor", "benefactor", "fellow", "friend" or "member". Titles will be awarded at an appropriate level in accordance with guidelines and procedures published by the Foundation from time to time. 1.3.2 Foundation Name Board and Foundation Certificates Donations, non-monetary gifts, contributions and bequests made in support of the University through the Foundation may be acknowledged by the award of a Foundation Certificate, and/or publication of the name of the donor or bequeather on the Foundation Name Board. 1.4 Confidentiality The University shall observe requests to maintain confidentiality made by any individual or other organisation that is the subject of a proposal under this policy, and shall also maintain confidentiality in respect of nominations and committee proceedings relating to proposals for recognition until they have been approved. 1.5 Permission to Use the Name of the University Subject to approval, a proposal for recognition or naming made under this policy may include a request to use the name of the University. 1.6 Rescinding of Recognition The Council may rescind any form of recognition if it is no longer appropriate or if grounds exist for it to be rescinded. 1.6.1 The Council may recsind any recognition and refuse to continue to accept or administer such donations, gifts or other contributions if it believes that the nature of the benefactor or of the particular donation, gift or contribution is such that acceptance would compromise the integrity or reputation of the University in any way. 1.6.2 A naming proposal which relates to the use of the name of a corporate entity shall normally be limited to the life of the corporate entity. 1.7 Procedures and Guidelines Pursuant to the Policy Procedures and Guidelines pusuant to the policy must be followed. The procedures and guidelines are established by the Director of Administration and Registrar.
Guidelines and Procedures for the Conferral of Recognition by the University Pursuant to the Policy on the Recognition of Service, Donations, Significant Contributions to the University or Outstanding Personal Achievement
Guidelines on Conferral of Recognition
1.	Guidelines on Conferring Honorary Degrees, Awards and Titles The guidelines for Honorary degrees, the title of Companion of the University or the title of Emeritus Professor are formulated by the Awards Committee and are available from the Secretary of that Committee.
2.	Guidelines on Naming and Awarding Alternative Forms of Recognition 2.1 Naming should normally be proposed in recognition of a sponsor, a donor or a person who has given distinguished service to the University. 2.2 The naming of a scholarship or prize is subject to review by the University Education Committee. 2.3 Recognition should be awarded in a form that is appropriate to the nature and level of the contribution which has been made to the University.
Procedures for Awarding Recognition and Documentation Required for Proposals
1.	Receipt and Acknowledgement of Donations, Non-Monetary Gifts, and Bequests Donations, non-monetary gifts or bequests may be made either directly to the University or to the Flinders University Foundation, and will be acknowledged in writing by the Director of Administration and Registrar or the Executive Officer of the Foundation. Donations of money will normally be tax deductible. Non-monetary donations may also be tax deductible.
2.	Documentation Required in Support of Proposals for Recognition Proposals for recognition will be addressed to the Director of Administration and Registrar, and should include any relevant documentation. 2.1 Proposals should be marked "confidential" and contain the following information: the proposed form of recognition; relevant details about the proposer and the person or organisation that is the subject of the proposal, including contact details; a citation on the person who is the subject of the proposal, if appropriate; details of any conditions which apply in respect of the form of recognition which has been proposed.
3.	Citations A proposal to confer an honorary degree, award or title must be accompanied by a citation on the nominee. The Director of Administration and Registrar may edit a citation. Citations should contain the following information and be no more than 250 words in length: details of any academic qualifications, honours, titles or achievements of the nominee (including the date of the award and name of the institution or organisation which made the award) which may be of interest, and may support the nomination; an outline of the professional or work related achievements of the nominee which may be of interest and may support the nomination; and a description of the nominee's personal attributes, characteristics or values if this is considered to be relevant to the proposal.
4.	Permission to Confer Recognition and to Use or Publish a Name or Other Information Permission to confer recognition and publish any information about the conferral of recognition will be sought from the proposer and the person who is the subject of a proposal before the matter is publicised.
5.	Procedures for the Award of Honorary Degrees, Awards and Titles Procedures for conferring honorary degrees, Distinguished Service Awards, the title of Companion of the University and Emeritus Professor titles are formulated by the Awards Committee and can be obtained from the Secretary of that Committee.
6.	Procedures for Approval of Proposals for Naming or Other Forms of Recognition 6.1 A proposal will be submitted to the Director of Administration and Registrar. 6.2 If a proposal relates to a faculty, division or area it will then be referred to the relevant faculty, division or area for comment. 6.3 The proposal will be approved in accordance with the following procedures (Note: Naming of a scholarship, fellowship, grant or prize established by another body only requires approval if it is proposed to use the name of the University.) (i) The naming of a prize will be referred to the Director of Administration and Registrar for approval. The naming of an undergraduate scholarship or award will be referred to the Academic Senate for approval. (ii) The naming of a postgraduate award will be referred to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) for endorsement and the Academic Senate for approval. (iii) The naming of a postdoctoral fellowship, a research grant or an item of research equipment will be referred to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) for endorsement and the Academic Senate for approval. (iv) The naming of an externally funded or University funded personal chair or academic post will be referred to the Academic Senate for approval. (v) The naming of a major infrastructure item such as a building, area or facility will be referred to the Resources Committee for endorsement and Council for approval. (vi) A proposal for any other form of recognition will be referred to the Vice-Chancellor, who will refer it to Council or an appropriate Committee for approval.