MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, Mass. (October 15, 2015) -- The Board of Trustees of Tufts University has revoked the honorary doctor of arts degree conferred on Bill Cosby at Tufts’ Commencement on May 21, 2000. The decision to revoke the honorary degree was taken on the recommendation of the Board of Trustees Honorary Degree Committee, which after lengthy and serious consideration concluded that there is a substantial basis to discredit the accomplishments for which he was recognized 15 years ago.
Additionally, the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development has withdrawn the Eliot-Pearson Award for Excellence in Children's Media that was presented to Mr. Cosby on February 25, 2011.
Tufts President Anthony P. Monaco informed the university community of this decision in a message distributed by email today. That message noted that "Mr. Cosby has demonstrated a lack of character and integrity that clearly does not represent the values to which our university is committed and for which he was honored."
The university has notified Mr. Cosby of its actions.
Tufts University, located on three Massachusetts campuses in Boston, Medford/Somerville, and Grafton, and in Talloires, France, is recognized among the premier research universities in the United States. Tufts enjoys a global reputation for academic excellence and for the preparation of students as leaders in a wide range of professions. A growing number of innovative teaching and research initiatives span all campuses, and collaboration among the faculty and students in the undergraduate, graduate and professional programs across the university is widely encouraged.
