awards of distinction

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BCIT has a number of awards programs to recognize staff, alumni and distinctive individuals. Visit BCIT awards to find out more.

honorary doctor of technology

BCIT First Nations Elder Bob George receives an Honorary Doctor of Technology from Peter K-S So, past board chair and Brian Gillespie, past president, at Convocation February 1999. BCIT's honorary Doctorate is awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions to higher education, skills training, and the community. An elder in the Tsleil-waututh (Burrard) Nation and a BCIT resident elder and advisor to BCIT's First Nations program, Bob George volunteered his time to help native youth struggling with the demands of school and the challenge of being away from their communities. "He inspires those around him toward greatness with wisdom, humour, and humility", says Brenda Ireland, former coordinator of BCIT's First Nation program.

Honorary degrees are the highest accolade that BCIT gives, and are awarded to individuals who are widely recognized for their outstanding and sustained achievements. BCIT thereby bestows honour and distinction on individuals who have demonstrated the values that it cherishes. These achievements may be in one or more areas related to technology or business, such as:

  • Technological or business innovation
  • Applied research
  • Technological or trades training
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Health sciences
  • Manufacturing
  • Environmental stewardship

or in the field of education, or in other areas that have resulted in exceptional benefit to the community or society.

Judging

Nominations for Honorary Doctor of Technology are subject to review by the Tributes Committee, a committee of the BCIT Board of Governors. The committee comprises board members, faculty members, and administration. The BCIT Board of Governors office receives the nominations. The Tributes Committee is responsible for inviting nominations from the BCIT community, evaluating the nominations, and recommending candidate(s) to the President. The President will bring forward the recommended candidates for approval by the BCIT Board of Governors.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Nominations are invited from all BCIT staff, students, advisory committee members, alumni, retirees and the Board of Governors. When considering a candidate for nomination the following criteria should be kept in mind:

  • An Honorary Doctor of Technology will most likely be awarded to an individual not currently with BCIT who is widely acknowledged and recognized for outstanding achievements that have impacted positively on BCIT specifically, on post-secondary education in general, or on the community or society as a whole.
  • An Honorary Doctor of Technology will honour distinguished persons who are widely recognized for excellence and accomplishments and whose receipt of such an award will bring honour and distinction to BCIT as well as to the recipient.
  • Individuals nominated would be distinguished by a legacy of respect and understanding toward others and by their ability to work effectively with diverse groups of people.
  • Honorary degrees honour living individuals who are able to attend the award ceremony. Nominees should be living at the time they are nominated. Only in exceptional circumstances will an honorary degree be awarded in absentia.
  • Honorary degrees are not normally awarded to active politicians or to active faculty and staff at BCIT.
  • The Tributes Committee welcomes candidates from outside British Columbia.

Nomination Process

  1. The Tributes Committee makes recommendations regarding the awarding of honorary degrees only after it has received and considered complete nomination packages.
  2. Nominators who wish, as a first step, to present an incomplete submission to the Tributes Committee may do so. Incomplete submissions must provide, at a minimum, the name and contact information of the nominator(s), the name of the nominee, and the reasons why the nominee should be awarded an honorary degree (up to 300 words). The Committee will respond to incomplete submissions by indicating whether it wishes to receive a complete nomination package for this nominee. Nominators may then avail themselves of assistance to complete the submission.
  3. Nominations will be treated with utmost confidentiality and received by the BCIT Board of Governors office for the Tributes Committee.
  4. The Tributes Committee will review all nominations and bring forward those nominations it recommends to the President for Board of Governors approval.
  5. The Chair of the Tributes Committee (or designate) will acknowledge receipt of each nomination.
  6. The nominee must agree to be nominated and the nominators must state that the nominee agrees.
  7. The nominator must provide satisfactory substantiation for their nomination with an accompanying statement and rationale (500 words). It is advisable to include recommendations or endorsements from colleagues or associates to support the nomination.
  8. The nomination must include the nominee's curriculum vitae.
  9. The Tributes Committee may call upon nominators for clarification or more information.
  10. Based on full consideration of all information the Tributes Committee will recommend final candidate(s) to the President to bring forward for Board approval.
  11. The President, following approval of the BCIT Board of Governors, will advise successful candidates.
  12. The Tributes Committee welcomes nominations throughout the year. Nomination deadlines for specific recognition ceremonies in February and June will be published and made available to eligible groups.

Assistance for nominators

The Tributes Committee acknowledges that the nomination process can be time-consuming. While the nomination decision must rest with the nominator some assistance in preparing the necessary documentation can be provided. Contact the Office of the Board of Governors at 604-432-8529.

Deadline

Nomination deadlines for specific recognition ceremonies are as follows:

  • The last Friday in October for awards to be acknowledged at the following June convocation.
  • The last Friday in April for awards to be acknowledged at the following February convocation.

Please contact the Office of the Board of Governors at 604-432-8529 for additional information on deadlines.

Nomination package checklist

A complete nomination package should include:

  1. Completed nomination form.
  2. Support for nomination: use a separate page — about 500 words. Documentation on why the individual nominated merits an Honorary Doctorate. In addition to the candidate’s education, positions held, community, provincial or national activities, notable achievements and contributions, previous awards and recognitions, consider this person's impact on BCIT and/or the BCIT Community.
  3. Curriculum vitae of the nominee.

You are encouraged to add any support or endorsement from colleagues or associates. All nominations are confidential.

Send the completed information package to:
The BCIT Board of Governors office
For the Tributes Committee
British Columbia Institute of Technology
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, B.C. V5G 3H2

Recognition

Successful candidates will be recognized at the Convocation ceremonies in February or June.