USM Rescinds Three Honorary Degrees Previously Awarded to Bill Cosby
Adelphi, Md. (June 22, 2018) – The University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents earlier today voted to rescind three honorary degrees previously awarded to entertainer Bill Cosby, who was convicted on April 26, 2018 on three counts of sexual assault.
Since Mr. Cosby’s conviction, the board had received requests to rescind degrees from the three awarding institutions: University of Baltimore; University of Maryland, College Park; and University of Maryland Eastern Shore. No other USM institution has awarded a degree to Mr. Cosby.
In making its decision, the board reaffirmed the USM’s and each of the three universities’ commitment to preventing, reporting and responding to incidents of sexual harassment, assault and misconduct.
“As Maryland’s public university system, we are collectively and individually committed to reducing the incidence of sexual misconduct and to responding when it occurs,” said USM Chancellor Robert Caret. “The universities’ requests, and the board’s decision, to rescind honorary degrees awarded to an individual later convicted of sexual assault reaffirms our values and sends a signal to all students, faculty, and staff across our institutions and to the people of Maryland. Sexual misconduct will not be tolerated, much less honored.”
Contact: Mike Lurie
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: mlurie@usmd.edu