Statement on the withdrawal of an honorary doctorate (as of 7/2021)

The Faculty Council of the Faculty of Human Sciences, as the responsible body, has unanimously decided to revoke the honorary doctorate of the educational scientist Prof. Dr. Hartmut von Hentig. This vote was unanimously confirmed by the Senate of the University of Kassel at its meeting on July 14, 2021. The decision was preceded by a thorough review process by the faculty's doctoral committee. Among other things, two expert opinions were obtained. The department came to the conclusion that the discussion by Prof. Dr. Hartmut von Hentig in his work "Noch immer mein Leben: Memories and Comments from the Years 2005 to 2015", published in 2016, with the events surrounding the abuse cases at the Odenwaldschule constitutes significant academic misconduct.

An appeal can still be lodged against the withdrawal. No further information can be provided on the current proceedings. Hartmut von Hentig received an honorary doctorate from the then Department of Education/Human Sciences at the University of Kassel in 2004.