It may be that the decision to reward an individual with an honorary degree is "uncontroversial" but thetype of degree that is awarded is.
While I was teaching in the School of Education at Sussex University some years ago, a decision was taken to award an honorary doctorate to the headteacher of Roedean School who had contributed nothing to our teacher education programme and to award honorary masters degrees to a number of headteachers of local state schools who had.
David Stephens
Visiting professor
Brighton University