It is the policy of the University not to confer degrees indiscriminately. On rare occasions, a student who has completed all or nearly all of the requirements for a degree meets an untimely death through accident or illness before the degree is conferred. In such cases, it may be appropriate that students be recognized for their work by means of conferring a degree posthumously.
A petition is initiated by the student’s college
dean. The college dean will provide a recommendation along with a
verification of the student’s academic standing and degree progress before
forwarding the petition via the Vice President and Dean for Undergraduate Education (for undergraduate degrees) or the Dean of the Graduate
School (for graduate degrees). The petition is then forwarded on to the
President for approval.
If approved, the President will notify the Vice President and Dean for Undergraduate
Education or the Dean of the Graduate School
(whichever is appropriate). In the case of undergraduate degrees, the
college dean will notify the Registrar’s Office; in the case of graduate
degrees, the Dean of the Graduate School will notify the Registrar’s
Office. The Registrar’s Office will obtain the appropriate diploma and
forward it to the college dean, or Dean of the Graduate School, as appropriate,
for presentation. The official commencement program will include the
student’s name with the annotation that the degree was conferred
posthumously. The student’s record will be similarly annotated.
Approved: President Jordan (12-11-87)
Revised and Effective: President Spanier (7-15-96)
Revised: ACUE (3-14-02)
Revised: Editorial (6-5-06)