GW will not revoke Cosby’s honorary degree

Officials will not revoke Bill Cosby’s honorary degree, the University announced Tuesday.

At least seven other colleges have rescinded honorary degrees awarded to the comedian and “Cosby Show” star in light of accusations against Cosby that he drugged and sexually assaulted dozens of women, some of which Cosby admitted to being true a decade ago.

“While we are shocked and disturbed by the allegations against Mr. Cosby, honorary degrees are conferred at a moment in time, based on what the university knows about the honoree at that time,” the statement reads. “It has never been the university’s practice to rescind an honorary degree.”

Officials had been in talks about possibly revoking the degree.

Cosby was awarded the degree when he spoke at Commencement in 1997, under then-University President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg. Last month, Marquette University was the first institution to retract an honorary degree awarded to the actor.

Nearly 60 colleges and universities, including GW, have maintained their connections with Cosby.