12.002:  Posthumous Awarding of Graduate Degrees

See also Policy and Procedure 12.001, "Posthumous Awarding of Degrees," for undergraduate degrees.

I.  Minimum Standards

A.  Master of Fine Arts

Admittance into candidacy; completion of at least 75% of coursework, required hours, and requirements for the degree; and approval of thesis proposal.

B.  Other Master's degrees

Completion of at least 75% of coursework, required hours, and requirements for the degree.

C.  Clinical Doctorates

Completion of at least 75% of coursework, required hours, and requirements for the degree.

D.  Ph.D. or Ed.D.

Admittance into candidacy, which includes approval of dissertation proposal; a portion of dissertation beyond the proposal has to be written.

II.  Program-Specific Guidelines

Guidelines established by individual degree programs will be recommended by the faculty, department chair, or school director, and dean, with final approval by the Provost. Guidelines must identify the individuals who would be involved in recommending the awarding of the degree.

In deciding whether an individual has met the program's requirements for the posthumous degree, the student's faculty advisor should be consulted. The award of a posthumous Ph.D. or Ed.D. degree must be approved by the student's doctoral program or dissertation committee.

III.  Process

Any interested party may initiate consideration of awarding the degree, but the formal request must come from the family member to the student's academic dean (the dean of the college that awards the degree).

The dean sends a memo to the Office of the Registrar asking that the degree be awarded posthumously as of the appropriate graduation date. This memo must indicate that the request came from or was approved by the family. A copy of the request should also be sent to the Vice President for Research and Creative Activity and Dean of the Graduate College.

The Office of the Registrar will waive the graduation application or re-application fee.

The Office of the Registrar will mail the diploma to the family member or, if desired, give it to the dean or other appropriate University official for presentation in a private gathering as a special gesture to the family. Upon the request of the academic dean, the Office of the Registrar will make a special effort to produce the diploma early.

1. President

2. Executive Vice President and Provost

3. Executive Staff

4. Dean of Students

5. Associate Provost for Academic Affairs

6. Vice President for Research and Creative Activity and Dean of the Graduate College

7. The Deans of all colleges awarding graduate degrees, except the Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine.

8. The Dean of every regional campus with a graduate program.

9. Faculty Senate

10. Graduate Council

11. Policy and Procedure Review Committee