UNC’s Board of Trustees voted Thursday morning to revoke comedian Bill Cosby’s honorary degree. The decision comes following Cosby’s conviction of sexual assault in late April.

Chancellor Carol Folt says this is the first time the university has ever revoked an honorary degree, which was presented to Cosby in 2003.

Folt describes this decision as a necessary step.

“When we looked at what he had been charged with and what he’s done is so counter to our values, that we felt he no longer merited that high honor,” says Folt.

This is the latest step in Cosby’s fall from grace. The comedian, who spoke at UNC’s commencement in 2003, was accused by at least 60 women of sexual misconduct. Cosby was eventually found guilty of three sexual assault charges against Andrea Constand and now faces up to 30 years in prison.

Folt says she doesn’t foresee this case setting a precedent for the university reviewing those they’ve awarded honors to in the past.

“I believe the people we give them to merit that honorary degree,” she says, “so I think it’s a very unusual case when something like this happens, and so I certainly don’t look forward [or] anticipating that happening.”

The board’s vote to revoke Cosby’s degree was unanimous.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Trustees Move Forward With Plans to Construct On-Campus New Residence Hall
The UNC Board of Trustees approved requests for a construction manager and site selection for "Residence Hall 1," the first new residence hall on UNC's campus since 2006.
Former Chapel Hill Mayor Howard Lee Among 4 to Receive Honorary UNC Degrees
Howard Lee, the former mayor of Chapel Hill and North Carolina senator, is one of four special guests UNC will grant honorary degrees during its 2024 spring commencement ceremony on May 11. The university announced on Tuesday that Lee — who was the first Black mayor in a majority-white southern city in the United States […]
Student Body President, Trustees Push for Updates to UNC's 'Subpar' Rec Center
Students and campus leaders are advocating for updates to campus workout facilities, like the SRC, so that more students can exercise at a time.
UNC Police, Emergency Officials Discuss Lockdown and Response Improvements with Trustees
The Board of Trustees met to discuss the response from UNC Police and emergency planning details on September 28.
UNC Experts Present Efforts to Combat Opioid-Related Deaths in Campus Community
At the most recent UNC BOT meeting, researchers and health professionals shared what the university is doing to combat opioid overdoses on campus.
Carrington Hall has an Updated Design for the Capital Project
The new design will still include the same elongated structure but with a glass exterior, which will help with temperature control.
UNC Trustees Talk Affirmative Action, Accessibility at First Meeting of 2023-24
UNC Board of Trustees officially barred use of 'race, sex, color or ethnicity' in admissions, complying with Supreme Court case decision.
Public Forum on State University Governance Coming to Durham Tech
On Wednesday, Governor Roy Cooper announced the sites for a series of public forums dedicated to the governance of public universities. The series includes six forums between February and April, with the last coming on the campus of Durham Tech on April 11. The goal of the forums is to “seek ideas and suggestions on […]
UNC Students Call to Raise Graduate Student Pay
Facing an affordability crisis in Chapel Hill, graduate students are calling for a change. UNC’s graduate and professional student government leaders are stepping up their efforts to raise the graduate student pay. 
'The Bare Minimum': UNC's Black Community Addresses Board of Trustees
While Nikole Hannah-Jones was granted a tenured professorship after weeks of public scrutiny, some Black community members, who attended the Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday, said that is not enough.
›