Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024

Posthumous Degrees

Students who die during their academic programs may be awarded posthumous degrees.

  1. The request to award a posthumous degree may be initiated by the decedent’s family, the major department/school/program area, or college, as well as by the Dean of Students.
  2. The CAO, in consultation with the Dean of Students, shall determine whether the student had made reasonable progress toward degree completion and did not have a significant disciplinary incident.
  3. If the conditions in (2) are met, the Registrar shall withdraw the student from all unfinished courses the student was enrolled in at the time of death (if applicable), order the appropriate diploma, and arrange for the decedent to be listed in the first available commencement program.
  4. The Registrar shall send notice of the posthumous degree award to the President, the CAO, and the decedent’s major department/school/program area and college.
  5. The President shall write a letter to the decedent’s family announcing the posthumous degree and the date of the commencement ceremony at which the degree shall be awarded.