Posthumous Degree Procedure
Nomination/Approval Process:
- Anybody may identify a candidate for a posthumous degree, but such a suggestion must be made to the chair of the appropriate academic department for consideration and to begin the formal process.
- The student’s degree audit shall be obtained from the Registrar’s Office to verify progress toward degree completion.
- The academic department in which the student was enrolled will recommend the candidate for a posthumous degree in a formal written request to the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). The request must include the name and ID of the student, the degree, majors, minors, and concentrations, if applicable, to be awarded, and the recommended semester for degree conferral. The VPAA may choose to present this nomination to the Academic Policy and Affairs Council (APAC) for review/discussion.
- If supported by the VPAA, the VPAA will submit the recommendation to the university president for formal approval.
If approved by the president:
- The VPAA will notify the registrar to begin the process for degree posting and commencement proceedings, if applicable.
- The President will inform the immediate family of the university’s decision and desire to recognize their student with this honor (this process should be kept confidential until and unless approved at all levels). If the family desires to represent the student and receive the diploma at a commencement ceremony, this must be relayed to the commencement coordinator for planning.
Miscellaneous Details/Considerations:
- A posthumous degree will be printed in commencement programs within the appropriate college section. If the family chooses not to participate, this award may still be read during the ceremony (unless explicitly requested otherwise by the family).
- If the student had financial debt to the university, this debt will be waived.
- Exceptions to the aforementioned minimum requirements may be considered in special cases, with support of the academic department chair and VPAA and approval of the president.
- The statement "awarded posthumously" will be printed on the student’s academic record, but not on the diploma.