This policy establishes the eligibility for and process to award a Posthumous Citation or Degree and standardizes the approach across colleges such that all students are recognized in a consistent manner.
This policy applies to the campus community, including all university employees, agents, and students.
Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost
The university may award a Posthumous Degree only when a student has completed all degree requirements at the time of death.
The university may award a Posthumous Citation through the Office of the Dean of Students within one year of the death of a student who had been enrolled in coursework. The Office of the Dean of Students reserves the right to withhold Posthumous Citations for students who engaged in a course of conduct that significantly endangered the health or safety of others or who were not in good standing at the time of death.
Posthumous Degree: An official academic degree conferred after a student’s death when the student had completed all requirements for the degree prior to death, as determined through the university’s established degree certification and conferral processes.
Posthumous Citation: A formal non-degree recognition of the student’s time with the university and academic focus represented by their major(s) and minor.
Members of the university community who become aware of the death of a student should notify the Office of the Dean of Students.
Awarding of Posthumous Degrees for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students is initiated by the College in which the student is enrolled, using the established degree certification and conferral processes in place for all other students.
Awarding of Posthumous Citations for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students is initiated by the Office of the Dean of Students.
The Office of the Dean of Students establishes eligibility and provides the list of students known to the Office of the Dean of Students who will be awarded a Posthumous Citation to the Office of the Registrar. The Office of the Registrar is responsible for ordering the Posthumous Citation.
Posthumous Citations are distributed to the families of deceased students at the annual student memorial, generally held in the fall semester of each academic year. In the absence of a family member’s attendance, the citation will be mailed. The date and nature of the ceremony is determined by the Office of the Dean of Students.
Departmental representatives and the broader campus community will be invited to attend the memorial.
Office of the Dean of Students
Office of the Registrar