The University of Rhode Island announced on Friday that it would be revoking the honorary degrees earned by a pair of prominent advisors to former President Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani and Michael Flynn.
Giuliani, the former New York mayor turned personal lawyer for Donald Trump, received a Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa in 2003 based on his demonstrated leadership in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Flynn was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2014.
According to the Providence Journal, the university’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to revoke the degrees following a “comprehensive and objective review” in December.
“After reviewing the recommendation from the President, who endorsed the committee’s recommendation, the Board voted to approve the revocation of these honorary degrees,” Chair of the Board of Trustees Margo Cook said in a statement. “The Board of Trustees supports the University and its mission to uphold its values, especially its commitment to intellectual and ethical leadership and fostering an environment of diversity and respect.”
University president Marc Parlange said he supported the board’s decision in a news release.
“I agree with the Board’s decision,” Parlange said. “Based on the findings of the Honorary Degree Committee, I made a recommendation to the Board of Trustees to revoke the honorary degrees of General Flynn and Mayor Giuliani, agreeing that they no longer represent the highest level of our values and standards that were evident when we first bestowed the degree.”
