Procedure for Degrees Or Certificate of Attendance Awarded Posthumously

Iowa State University

Procedure for Degrees or Certificate of Attendance Awarded Posthumously

Procedure for Posthumous Degree

If a deceased student was very close to earning a degree, in special cases the degree can be awarded posthumously. Normally, the student would be within one semester (i.e. within 18 credits for an undergraduate degree) of completing the requirements for the degree at the time of death.

In the case of a student pursuing a graduate degree that requires the completion a research project and the writing of a thesis or dissertation, the project must be substantially completed and a draft version of the thesis or dissertation must be passed upon by the Program of Study Committee.

Inquiries relative to the possibility of a posthumous degree for a deceased student should be referred to the dean of the student’s college. If the dean supports awarding the posthumous degree, the recommendation must be forwarded to the Provost. The request must indicate the rationale for awarding the degree posthumously and must indicate approval on behalf of the faculty in the student’s major department and the dean that any remaining credits required for the degree are waived. If the dean does NOT support awarding the posthumous degree, the individual(s) who inquired about the posthumous degree should be informed of the decision (if applicable).

If approval is granted by the Provost, the dean of the student’s college and the Registrar will be notified. If the posthumous degree is not approved by the Provost, the dean of the student’s college will be so notified.

After the posthumous degree has been approved, the dean or a designee will contact the student’s family to make arrangements for presenting the degree (diploma). The Registrar’s Office graduation evaluator for the student’s college will add the student’s name and posthumous designation to the graduation lists and commencement program. The graduation evaluator will also prepare a diploma to be presented to the student’s family. No special notation will be made on the diploma.

The graduation evaluator will notify University Relations. University Relations will check with the student’s parents, spouse, family, etc., to see if they want the student’s name to be listed in the hometown newspaper.

The degree will be posted on the student’s permanent record as follows:

Example:

B.B.A. BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 05-21-02

MAJOR: ACCOUNTING

DEGREE CONFERRED POSTHUMOUSLY

Procedure for Posthumous Certificate of Attendance

A posthumous degree may only be awarded to a deceased student who is very close to graduation, as per the policy statement above. In some cases the department and/or college may wish to recognize the attendance and/or contributions of a deceased student who is not close to graduating by presenting a posthumous Certificate of Attendance to the family of the deceased student.

The request to present a posthumous Certificate of Attendance should be referred to the dean of the student’s college for approval and recommendation to the Provost. No minimum period of attendance is required and academic degree requirements are not relevant.

If the Dean of the student’s college recommends that a Certificate of Attendance be presented to the family of the deceased student and if the Provost concurs with this recommendation, the approved request will then be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar. The Office of the Registrar will prepare the posthumous Certificate of Attendance and submit it to the department or initial requestor for presentation to the family.

2/13/2006
(Replaces Registrar’s policy dated 5-21-83 and updated 12/13/99)