University of Arizona Faculty Senate Chair Leila Hudson says policy changes made by UA President Suresh Garimella have violated the principle of shared governance in deciding who earns honorary degrees.
Under Garimella’s new policy, he will appoint nine faculty members to the honorary doctorate committee, bypassing the Faculty Senate as a unified body. As a response, Hudson says she will not carry the ceremonial mace, as she usually does, in this year’s commencement.
She also said she will notify the honorary degree recipients of the president’s “breach of protocol and law,” and will discourage any other faculty from stepping into her role as one of the nine appointed committee members.
Hudson wrote to Garimella in a letter Monday, “May I suggest that you carry the University mace yourself in the procession, or have one of your appointed friends or political or financial advisors do so?”
University spokesperson Mitch Zak says the UA’s updated honorary degree protocol is consistent with its peer institutions.
“Faculty are formally included in the process, nominee vetting is strengthened through a structured review, and final responsibility rests with the president,” Zak wrote in a statement to AZPM.
