# Revoking an earned degree for non-academic reasons **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 30, 2018, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revoking-an-earned-degree-for-non-academic-reasons/813360 "2018-04-30T17:33:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revoking-an-earned-degree-for-non-academic-reasons/813360/21 "2018-05-02T12:12:16Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > That’s not the way it works (at least in my experience, which is mainly confined to academic jobs). If a job requires a particular degree, you don’t show them your personal copy of a diploma or degree certificate. That’d be too easy to fake anyway. If documentation is required, you arrange to have your official transcripts sent from the institution that granted your degree. One of my nephews interviewed for and was offered a job shortly after graduation. They asked for transcripts as a formality. _But_, nephew was fighting his university over some principle sort of thing, so he couldn’t get his transcripts. He ended up purchasing a forgery and it wound up in his employee file. A few months later he got a copy of his _real_ transcripts. He then had to figure out a way to swap out the forgery for the real thing, which he did with the help of someone in HR who found his situation hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revoking-an-earned-degree-for-non-academic-reasons/813360/22 "2018-05-02T12:26:04Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Personally, I’d disagree with revoking any degrees he’s already earned (I don’t care about the honorary ones). I staunchly agree. A degree is for academic work performed successfully. Let’s leave it that way. Cosby gave numerous financial gifts to the universities that bestowed honorary degrees upon him. If they feel that he is no longer worthy of being connected to their institutions, then they should also give back all the money, otherwise they are hypocritical. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revoking-an-earned-degree-for-non-academic-reasons/813360/23 "2018-05-02T14:59:57Z")
An earned degree is earned. An honorary degree is an honor. That they are both called a “degree” is unfortunate. They’re very different. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2018, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revoking-an-earned-degree-for-non-academic-reasons/813360/24 "2018-05-02T15:39:02Z")
There’s a big difference. Presumably Cosby paid tuition and fulfilled all graduation requirements for his earned degree. Revoking that because of his assault conviction would be like a car dealer repossessing your Honda Accord that they sold you years ago, which you paid for and legally own, because you were convicted of a totally unrelated child abuse charge. It would be tantamount to fraud on part of the dealer/university. ---
**Author:** ![yo\_han\_go](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yo_han_go/32/130_2.png) [@yo\_han\_go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yo_han_go)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revoking-an-earned-degree-for-non-academic-reasons/813360/25 "2018-05-03T23:56:03Z")
Some of us still has live memories of this practice in communist regimes. I would not recommend it doing it even for most notorious assholes. Take Dr. Evil for example. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revoking-an-earned-degree-for-non-academic-reasons/813360/26 "2018-05-04T00:09:59Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Cosby gave numerous financial gifts to the universities that bestowed honorary degrees upon him. Really? My understanding is that they were usually given in exchange for him to give a commencement address. I’m sure that he supported a few of them but not most of them. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revoking-an-earned-degree-for-non-academic-reasons/813360/27 "2018-05-04T21:56:40Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Really? My understanding is that they were usually given in exchange for him to give a commencement address. The typical fee for a speaker like him at a commencement address is around $75,000. So waiving that fee (as Cosby was known to do) is quite an in-kind contribution to the school. And tax-deductible. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revoking-an-earned-degree-for-non-academic-reasons/813360/28 "2018-05-04T23:13:11Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > The typical fee for a speaker like him at a commencement address is around $75,000. So waiving that fee (as Cosby was known to do) is quite an in-kind contribution to the school. And tax-deductible. Not tax-deductible in the US unless he also pays tax on the fee. A contribution of personal services to a charity is not tax-deductible in the US. For example, if you buy a painting and contribute it to a museum, you can deduct the cost of the painting. If you paint a painting and contribute it to a museum, you can deduct (at most) the cost of the paint and canvas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revoking-an-earned-degree-for-non-academic-reasons/813360.md?page=1)