Pitt to discuss Cosby’s honorary degree

Following suit with other universities that awarded Bill Cosby an honorary degree, Pitt said on Friday that it will consider rescinding the degree it awarded him 13 years ago.

Pitt gave Cosby an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree for his “lifetime of high achievement” after he spoke at Pitt Johnstown’s 2002 commencement ceremony. Now, though, after 55 accusers have come forward with allegations that Cosby sexually assaulted them over the course of his career, the Pitt committee charged with awarding honorary degrees will meet before the end of the fall semester to consider taking Cosby’s away.

“As far as we can determine, Pitt has never rescinded an honorary degree,” Pitt spokesperson Ken Service said in an email Friday.

Service said the committee, which is made up of faculty members, had not yet set an exact meeting date. The committee’s meeting will be private, Service said.

Nearly 60 colleges and universities in the United States have awarded Cosby an honorary degree. In the last two weeks, Fordham University, Marquette University, Brown University and the University of San Francisco have all rescinded the honorary degrees they awarded Cosby.