65-754: Sir Francis Joseph Edward Spring KCIE FIMechE (20 January 1849 – 25 August 1933) was an Anglo-Irish civil engineer and member of the Imperial Legislative Council who played a pioneering role in development of the Indian Railways . Spring is largely remembered today for championing the cause of the Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan . Spring was born in Baltimore , County Cork , United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 20 January 1849 to Rev. Edward Spring and his wife Matilda. He
130-562: A cross; the Order of the Indian Empire does not, in deference to India's non-Christian tradition. Members of all classes of the order were assigned positions in the order of precedence. Wives of members of all classes also featured on the order of precedence, as did sons, daughters and daughters-in-law of knights grand commander and knights commander. (See order of precedence in England and Wales for
195-429: A degree may be conferred on an individual for both the nature of the office they hold and the completion of a dissertation. The "dissertation et jure dignitatis" is considered to be a full academic degree. See below . Although higher doctorates such as Doctor of Science , Doctor of Letters , etc. are often awarded honoris causa , in many countries (notably England and Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand) it
260-517: A deliberate snub , the University of Oxford voted to refuse Margaret Thatcher an honorary degree in protest against her cuts in funding for higher education. This award had previously been given to all prime ministers who had been educated at Oxford. The Philosophy Faculty at Cambridge courted controversy among the academic community in March 1992, when three of its members posed a temporary veto against
325-535: A depiction of the circlet (a circle bearing the motto) and the collar; the former is shown either outside or on top of the latter. Knights commander and companions were permitted to display the circlet, but not the collar, surrounding their arms. The badge is depicted suspended from the collar or circlet. The first two kings of Bhutan were presented with the KCIE: Other appointees include: Sir Kumarapuram Seshadri Iyer (1 June 1845 – 13 September 1901), who served as
390-412: A formal approval and invitation are made; often it is perceived that the system is shrouded in secrecy, and occasionally seen as political and controversial. On occasion, organisations have been awarded honorary doctorates. Honoris causa degrees are not considered of the same standing as substantive degrees earned by the standard academic processes of courses and original research, except perhaps where
455-457: A further proclamation regarding the Order was made; the Order was expanded from two classes to three – Knight Grand Commander, Knight Commander and Companion. Seven knights grand commander were created, namely: Also from 1897, 3 honorary knights commander were made. Including Léon Émile Clément-Thomas (1897), Col. Sir Eduardo Augusto Rodriques Galhardo (Jan 1901) and Sir Hussien Kuli Khan, Mokhber-ed-Dowlet (June 1902). Emperor Gojong of Korea
520-613: A policy of not awarding honorary degrees at the behest of its founder, Thomas Jefferson . In 1845, William Barton Rogers , then chairman of the faculty, vigorously defended this policy; in 1861, he founded MIT in Boston and continued this practice. The University of Virginia does annually award Thomas Jefferson Medals in Architecture and in Law, as the highest honours accorded by that institution. The Stanford Alumni Association occasionally awards
585-421: A professor with prior service at another university. Similarly, a jure dignitatis degree is awarded to someone who has demonstrated eminence and scholarship by being appointed to a particular office. Thus, for example, a DD (Doctor of Divinity) might be conferred upon a bishop on the occasion of his consecration, or a judge created LLD (Legum Doctor) or DCL (Doctor of Civil Law) upon his or her appointment to
650-445: A series of racist and antisemitic remarks made by West . By convention, recipients of honorary doctorates do not use the title "Dr" in general correspondence. Recipients are not addressed orally or in writing as "Dr" by other academic institutions – and not correctly addressed as "Dr" in their professional/personal life. They continue to be addressed orally and in writing with the form of address to which they entitled prior to receiving
715-464: A university might be persuaded, or otherwise see fit, to grant exemption from some or all of the usual statutory requirements for the award of a degree. The earliest honorary degree on record was awarded to Lionel Woodville in the late 1470s by the University of Oxford . He later became Bishop of Salisbury . In the late 16th century, the granting of honorary degrees became quite common, especially on
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#1732851468868780-496: Is a leading exponent) and the post- Hegelian continental philosophical traditions (with which Derrida's work is more closely associated). In 1996, Southampton College at Long Island University (now a campus of Stony Brook University ) awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Amphibious Letters to Muppet Kermit the Frog . Although some students objected to awarding a degree to a Muppet, Kermit delivered an enjoyable commencement address and
845-600: Is believed to have awarded the first such diplomas to a group of 20 veterans in May of that year. Honorary degrees are usually awarded at regular graduation ceremonies, at which the recipients are often invited to make a speech of acceptance before the assembled faculty and graduates—an event which often forms the highlight of the ceremony. Generally, universities nominate several persons each year for honorary degrees; these nominations usually go through several committees before receiving approval. Nominees are generally not told until
910-690: Is credited with the construction of an acclaimed railway bridge across the Godavari River . He served as the Deputy Secretary to the Government of India, Under Secretary to the Government of Bengal and as the manager of the extensive East Coast Railway. He was also Secretary to the Government of Madras with responsibility for railways in the region. Spring was a regular contributor to engineering and India-focused journals throughout his career. Upon leaving
975-423: Is formally possible to earn such a degree as a substantive one. This typically involves the submission of a portfolio of peer-refereed research, usually undertaken over a number of years, which has made a substantial contribution to the academic field in question. The university will appoint a panel of examiners who will consider the case and prepare a report recommending whether or not the degree be awarded. Usually,
1040-510: Is named Sir Francis Spring , as is the main road leading to the port, and the marina of the Royal Madras Yacht Club is called Springhaven . Spring was portrayed by Stephen Fry in the 2015 British biographical film The Man Who Knew Infinity , which recounts the story of Ramanujan's adult life and his career at Cambridge University. Spring was portrayed by Richard Walsh in the 2014 film Ramanujan . Knight Commander of
1105-434: Is often conferred as a way of honouring a distinguished visitor's contributions to a specific field or to society in general. Honorary doctorates are purely titular degrees in that they confer no rights on the recipient and carry with them no formal academic qualification. As such, it is always expected that such degrees be listed in one's curriculum vitae (CV) as an award , and not in the education section. With regard to
1170-534: The Degree of Uncommon Man/Woman to individuals who have given "rare and exceptional service" to the university. Though UCLA has imposed a moratorium on awarding honorary degrees, it honours notable people with the UCLA Medal instead. St. John's College has not granted honorary degrees since 1936, but its alumni association occasionally offers honorary membership to retiring faculty, staff, and other close associates of
1235-506: The Delhi Durbar , the limits were increased to 40 knights grand commander, 120 knights commander, and 40 nominations of companions in any successive year. British officials and soldiers were eligible for appointment, as were rulers of Indian Princely States . Generally, the rulers of the more important states were appointed knights grand commander of the Order of the Star of India, rather than of
1300-517: The Open University , grant Doctor of the University (DUniv) degrees to selected nominees, while awarding PhD or EdD degrees to those who have fulfilled the academic requirements. Most American universities award the degrees of LLD ( Doctor of Laws ), LittD ( Doctor of Letters ), LHD ( Doctor of Humane Letters ), ScD ( Doctor of Science ), PedD (Doctor of Pedagogy) and DD ( Doctor of Divinity ) only as honorary degrees. American universities do not have
1365-593: The University of Calcutta . Between 1910 and 1913, he was a member of the Imperial Legislative Council of India. Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan worked as a Grade III Class IV clerk from 1912 to 1914 at the Madras Port Trust under Spring's chairmanship. Ramanujan's mathematical talents were brought to the notice of Francis Spring by his chief accountant S. Narayana Iyer. Soon, Spring developed an interest in him and lobbied for government support and sponsorship of his research studies in England. In part, this
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#17328514688681430-524: The University of Massachusetts Amherst also asked the university to revoke the honorary degree that was awarded to Mugabe over twenty years ago, and on 12 June 2008 the trustees unanimously rescinded Robert Mugabe's honorary degree. Michigan State University has also rescinded its honorary degree. In April 2009, Arizona State University's president, Michael M. Crow , refused to give an honorary degree to US President Barack Obama for his lack of adequate qualifying achievements thus far. Also, controversy
1495-465: The University of Massachusetts Amherst awarded him an honorary degree in 2007, in response to protests from students and faculty at the commencement ceremonies. In 2005 at the University of Western Ontario , Henry Morgentaler , a gynecologist involved in a legal case decriminalizing abortion in Canada ( R. v. Morgentaler ), was made an honorary Doctor of Laws. Over 12,000 signatures were acquired asking
1560-511: The 15th Diwan of Mysore from 1883 to 1901 was also awarded KCIE. Another C.I.E was John Malaise Graham, from the Royal Scots Greys for service. Received in 1947. Honorary degree An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases honoris causa ("for
1625-597: The Advancement of Science , and the board of regents of the University of the State of New York prohibited any university in the state from conferring an honorary Ph.D. effective in 1897. The number of honorary Ph.D. degrees awarded in the U.S. declined in the 20th century, and surveys by the United States Office of Education found none conferred in 1940 or later years. One of the last known recipients of an honorary Ph.D.
1690-536: The Better World Society, and others." The awarding of an honorary degree to political figures can prompt protests from faculty or students. In 2001, George W. Bush received an honorary degree from Yale University , where he had earned his bachelor's degree in history in 1968. Some students and faculty chose to boycott the university's 300th commencement . Andrew Card , who served as Bush's Chief of Staff from 2001 to 2006, ultimately chose not to speak when
1755-566: The Order of the Indian Empire The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria on 1 January 1878. The Order includes members of three classes: Appointments terminated after 1947, the year that British India became the independent Union of India and Dominion of Pakistan . With the death of the last surviving knight, the Maharaja Meghrajji III of Dhrangadhra ,
1820-486: The Order of the Indian Empire as a less exclusive version of the Order of the Star of India (founded in 1861); consequently, many more appointments were made to the former than to the latter. On 15 February 1887, the Order of the Indian Empire formally became "The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire" and was divided into two classes: knights commander and companions, with the following as knights commander, listed up to 1906 (in date order) However, on 21 June 1887,
1885-639: The Order of the Indian Empire in 1911. He was a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers, Institute of Mechanical Engineers and American Society of Civil Engineers. In December 1901 he received the honorary degree Master of Engineering from Dublin University . Spring was also the first person in Madras city to own a registered automobile. He was an honorary major in the South India Railway Volunteer Rifles. A tug boat operating in Madras harbour
1950-471: The Order of the Indian Empire. Women, save the princely rulers, were ineligible for appointment to the order. Female princely rulers were admitted as "knights" rather than as "dames" or "ladies". Other Asian and Middle Eastern rulers were also appointed as well. Members of the order wore elaborate costumes on important ceremonial occasions: At less important occasions, simpler insignia were used: The insignia of most other British chivalric orders incorporate
2015-636: The Permata early childhood centres in Malaysia although some alumni and students contended that the government-funded centres are "an abuse of taxpayers' money". Over 50 honorary degrees awarded to Bill Cosby have been rescinded due to allegations and lawsuits of sexual assault. In December 2022, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago rescinded an honorary doctorate degree awarded to rapper Kanye West after
Francis Spring - Misplaced Pages Continue
2080-605: The UWO to reverse its decision to honor Morgentaler. Several protest rallies were held, including one on the day the honorary degree was bestowed (a counter petition to support Morgentaler's degree gained 10,000 signatures). In 2007, protesters demanded that the University of Edinburgh revoke an honorary degree awarded to Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe in 1984. The university subsequently revealed plans to review its honorary degree policy and strip certain figures of their honorary degrees who did not deserve them. When considering revoking
2145-500: The United States, at Amherst, Wesleyan, and Yale, the AM ad eundem degree is conferred upon those who rise to the rank of full professor . At Brown and Harvard the degrees are awarded to those faculty who are granted tenure and the rank of associate professor, usually after approximately eight years of service to the university as an assistant professor or for a shorter amount of time for
2210-523: The applicant must have some strong formal connection with the university in question, for example full-time academic staff, or graduates of several years' standing. Some universities, seeking to differentiate between substantive and honorary doctorates, have a degree (often DUniv, or Doctor of the University) which is used for these purposes, with the other higher doctorates reserved for formally examined academic scholarship. The Archbishop of Canterbury has
2275-402: The approved post-nominal letters. It is not customary, however, for recipients of an honorary doctorate to adopt the prefix 'Dr. ' " It is generally considered improper practice for an honorary doctor to use the formal title of "Doctor," regardless of the background circumstances for the award. Written communications where an honorary doctorate has been awarded may include the letters "h.c." after
2340-485: The authority to award degrees. These " Lambeth degrees " are sometimes, erroneously, thought to be honorary; however the archbishops have for many centuries had the legal authority (originally as the representatives of the Pope , later confirmed by a 1533 Act of Henry VIII ), to award degrees and regularly do so to people who have either passed an examination or are deemed to have satisfied the appropriate requirements. Between
2405-443: The award to indicate that status. The recipient of an honorary degree may add the degree title postnominally , but it should always be made clear that the degree is honorary by adding "honorary" or "honoris causa" or "h.c." in parentheses after the degree title. In some countries, a person who holds an honorary doctorate may use the title "Doctor" prenominally , abbreviated "Dr.h.c." or "Dr.(h.c.)". Sometimes, they use "Hon" before
2470-423: The awarding of an honorary doctorate to Jacques Derrida ; they and other non-Cambridge proponents of analytic philosophy protested against the granting on the grounds that Derrida's work "did not conform with accepted measures of academic rigor." Although the university eventually passed the motion, the episode did more to draw attention to the continuing antipathy between the analytic (of which Cambridge's faculty
2535-538: The civil service in 1904, Spring was appointed Chairman of the Madras Port Trust and served in that position until 1919. In this role, Spring redesigned and modernised the harbour at Madras, greatly increasing its capacity and improving the port's defences against cyclone damage. He was a member of the Madras Legislative Council between 1900 and 1901, and was a fellow of the University of Madras and
2600-524: The class of Knight Grand Commander (25 at any given time) was added; the composition of the other two classes remained the same. The statute also provided that it was "competent for Her Majesty, Her heirs and successors, at Her or their pleasure, to appoint any Princes of the Blood Royal, being descendants of His late Majesty King George the First, as Extra Knights Grand Commander". By Letters Patent of 2 Aug 1886,
2665-408: The college. Some universities and colleges have been accused of granting honorary degrees in exchange for large donations. Honorary degree recipients, particularly those who have no prior academic qualifications, have sometimes been criticized if they insist on being called "Doctor" as a result of their award, as the honorific may mislead the general public about their qualifications. In 1985, as
Francis Spring - Misplaced Pages Continue
2730-456: The critic John Ruskin suffered a physical or mental breakdown in 1840 and dropped out of the University of Oxford . He returned to Oxford in 1842, and sat a single exam, and was awarded an honorary fourth-class degree. In the United States, the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree was first conferred as an honorary degree at Bucknell University in 1852; not until 1861 did Yale University award
2795-535: The degree letters, for example, "Hon DMus". In recent years, some universities have adopted entirely separate postnominal titles for honorary degrees. This is in part due to the confusion that honorary degrees have caused. For example, an honorary doctorate from the Auckland University of Technology takes the special title HonD since it is now common in certain countries to use certain degrees, such as LLD or HonD, as purely honorary. Some universities, including
2860-543: The exact positions.) Knights grand commander used the post-nominal "GCIE", knights commander "KCIE", and companions "CIE." Knights grand commander and knights commander were entitled to the prefix "Sir". Wives of knights grand commander and knights commander could prefix "Lady" to their surnames. Such forms were not used by peers and Indian princes, except when the names of the former were written out in their fullest forms. Knights grand commander were also entitled to receive heraldic supporters, and could encircle their arms with
2925-406: The first class were titled "Knight Grand Commander" rather than "Knight Grand Cross" so as not to offend the non-Christian Indians appointed to the order. At the time of foundation in 1878 the order had only one class, that of Companion, with no quota imposed. In 1886, the Order was divided into the two classes of knights commander (50 at any given time) and companions (no quota). The following year
2990-585: The first earned Ph.D., becoming the first American university to do so. Over one hundred institutions in the United States conferred honorary Ph.D. degrees in the 19th century, to more than seven hundred recipients. However, the practice of awarding the Ph.D. as an honorary degree drew condemnation from organizations such as the American Philological Association and the American Association for
3055-418: The honorary degree of a political figure, such reasons as human rights abuse or political corruption would be considered. As a result, it was announced that Mugabe had been stripped of his honorary degree. The university also planned to have a more rigorous selection procedure regarding potential recipients of honorary degrees, in an attempt to rectify the trend of awarding degrees to celebrities. Students at
3120-416: The hood, and those at the University of St Andrews wear a black cassock instead of the usual full-dress gown. An ad eundem or jure officii degree is sometimes considered honorary, although these are only conferred on an individual who has already achieved a comparable qualification at another university or attained an office requiring the appropriate level of scholarship. Under certain circumstances,
3185-474: The judicial bench. These, also, are properly considered substantive rather than honorary degrees. Some US universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cornell University , Stanford University , and Rice University , do not award honorary degrees as a matter of policy. The University of Virginia (founded in 1819) was probably the first US university to explicitly have
3250-427: The last fourteen years of his life. With a considerable personal fortune, he gave a large amount of money for restoration work on St Peter and St Paul's Church, Lavenham , his family's ancestral church, where he has a memorial. Spring died at Saint Aubin on 25 August 1933 at the age of 84. For his accomplishments, Spring was made a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire in 1894 and appointed Knight Commander of
3315-447: The number of knights commander was increased to 82, while commanders were limited to 20 nominations per year (40 for 1903 only). Membership was expanded by letters patent of 10 June 1897, which permitted up to 32 knights grand commander. A special statute of 21 October 1902 permitted up to 92 knights commander, but continued to limit the number of nominations of commanders to 20 in any successive year. On 21 December 1911, in connection with
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#17328514688683380-557: The occasion of royal visits to Oxford or Cambridge . On the visit of James I to Oxford in 1605, for example, forty-three members of his retinue (fifteen of whom were earls or barons ) received the degree of Master of Arts , and the Register of Convocation explicitly states that these were full degrees, carrying the usual privileges, such as voting rights in Convocation and Congregation . There were also some special cases: for example
3445-767: The order became dormant in 2010. The motto of the Order is Imperatricis auspiciis , ( Latin for "Under the auspices of the Empress"), a reference to Queen Victoria, the first Empress of India . The Order is the junior British order of chivalry associated with the British Indian Empire ; the senior one is The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India . The British founded the Order in 1878 to reward British and native officials who served in British India. The Order originally had only one class (Companion), but expanded to comprise two classes in 1887. The British authorities intended
3510-517: The order. The fictional characters Purun Dass, invented by Rudyard Kipling , and Harry Paget Flashman , invented by George MacDonald Fraser , were KCIEs; Kipling's engineer Findlayson in The Day's Work (1908) aspires to the CIE. The British sovereign serves as Sovereign of the Order. The grand master held the next-most senior rank; the position was held, ex officio , by the viceroy of India . Members of
3575-400: The recipient has demonstrated an appropriate level of academic scholarship that would ordinarily qualify him or her for the award of a substantive degree. Recipients of honorary degrees typically wear the same academic dress as recipients of substantive degrees, although there are a few exceptions: honorary graduates at the University of Cambridge wear the appropriate full-dress gown but not
3640-473: The sake of the honour") or ad honorem ("to the honour"). The degree is typically a doctorate or, less commonly, a master's degree , and may be awarded to someone who has no prior connection with the academic institution or no previous postsecondary education. An example of identifying a recipient of this award is as follows: Doctorate in Business Administration ( Hon. Causa ). The degree
3705-495: The small college received considerable press coverage. The degree was conferred in recognition of efforts in the area of environmentalism . The university stated: "His theme song, ' It's Not Easy Bein' Green ,' has become a rallying cry of the environmental movement. Kermit has used his celebrity to spread positive messages in public service announcements for the National Wildlife Federation , National Park Service ,
3770-455: The system of "higher doctorates" used in the UK and some other universities around the world. Some universities and colleges have the custom of awarding a master's degree to every scholar appointed as a full professor, who had never earned a degree there. At the universities of Oxford, Dublin and Cambridge, many senior staff are granted the degree of Master of Arts after three years of service. In
3835-494: The two extremes of honouring celebrities and formally assessing a portfolio of research, some universities use honorary degrees to recognise achievements of intellectual rigour. Some institutes of higher education do not confer honorary degrees as a matter of policy—see below . Some learned societies award honorary fellowships in the same way as honorary degrees are awarded by universities, for similar reasons. A typical example of university regulations is, "Honorary graduates may use
3900-495: The use of this honorific, the policies of institutions of higher education generally ask that recipients "refrain from adopting the misleading title" and that a recipient of an honorary doctorate should restrict the use of the title "Dr" before their name to any engagement with the institution of higher education in question and not within the broader community. The practice dates back to the Middle Ages , when for various reasons
3965-618: Was a descendant of the Spring family of County Kerry and a relation of Baron Monteagle of Brandon . Spring was educated at Midleton College and Trinity College Dublin . Upon graduating from Trinity College Dublin Spring entered the Indian Imperial Civil Service 's engineering section in 1870. He served as Consulting Engineer to the Government of India and played a pivotal role in the development of railways in East India . He
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#17328514688684030-586: Was achieved through regular correspondence with Sir Alfred Bourne . In 1873, Spring married Charlotte, the daughter of Mr Samuel Townsend JP . She died in 1930. Spring founded the Royal Madras Yacht Club in 1911, which still exists as the premier sailing club in India. He retired in 1919, shortly after his seventieth birthday. He left India and moved to Jersey in the Channel Islands , where he lived for
4095-577: Was ignited about Notre Dame awarding Obama an honorary degree, as the institution is Roman Catholic and Obama holds pro-choice views on abortion and supports embryonic stem cell research. In February 2012, Rosmah Mansor , the wife of the Prime Minister of Malaysia , Najib Razak was controversially awarded an honorary doctorate by the Curtin University for "services to childhood education". The university honored Rosmah for founding and driving
4160-608: Was made an honorary Knight Grand Commander on 17 December 1900. Appointments to both the Order of the Star of India and the Order of the Indian Empire ceased after 14 August 1947. As the last Grand Master of the orders, the Earl Mountbatten of Burma was also the last known individual to have publicly worn the stars of a Knight Grand Commander of both orders, during the Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977. There are no living members of
4225-509: Was singer Bing Crosby , from Gonzaga University in 1937. By 2001, about 21 U.S. states had begun allowing public schools to grant honorary high school diplomas to military veterans under a program called "Operation Recognition". In Ohio, it was unclear whether public schools had the legal authority to grant them until 12 July 2001, when Governor Bob Taft signed a bill allowing public school districts to grant them to honorably discharged veterans of World War II . Lakota East High School
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