An honorary degree bestowed upon former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly by New York’s Marist College, after he was "accused of engaging in multiple acts of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment of women in the workplace."

Although the institution's board of trustees pointed out that he had "denied these allegations", in a statement they said: "To many, his reported payments of tens of millions of dollars and dismissal by Fox News lend credibility to the allegations against him."

They added: "Any form of sexual harassment or abuse is deeply contrary to the values of Marist College. The Marist Board of Trustees has therefore revoked Mr. O'Reilly's honorary degree."

O’Reilly was fired from Fox in April. A New York Times report later revealed that he had reached a $32m (£23m) settlement with a former Fox analyst over sexual harassment allegations.

O’Reilly, received his Bachelor of Arts history degree from Marist in 1971.

Thirty years later, the private liberal arts college in the small city of Poughkeepsie, New York, gave their well known student an honorary degree.

And in 2015, O’Reilly helped establish the Peter P. O’Keefe scholarship by donating $1m (£731,000), which helps exceptional students in financial need.

Marist College is a private liberal arts college located in Poughkeepsie, NY

Professor O'Keefe taught Mr O'Reilly when he was a student at the institution Julia Fisherman, the college's director of media relations told The Independent.

The “funds are being used exactly as specified”, she said, adding that Mr O'Reilly had not responded to the withdrawl of his honour.