Policies

This policy outlines the conditions under which a student who is near completion of their degree deceases prior to the degree being awarded may be awarded the degree posthumously.

A Posthumous Degree recognizes academic work completed by a student who has made progress toward completion of the degree they were completing at the time of their passing. The Posthumous Degree is a regular Florida Tech degree but awarded posthumously.

Undergraduate

• Departments should notify their college dean of a proposed degree to be awarded posthumously.
• The dean’s office should consult with the student’s department to review the student’s academic record. If the student has completed at least 80% of the requirements for their degree program, is in good academic standing, and has support from the faculty, the dean’s office should request the approval of the posthumous degree by submitting a request to the Provost.
• The dean’s request should include the degree and the term for which the student should be awarded the degree posthumously.
• If the Provost approves the request, the college dean will be notified in writing, with a copy sent to the Registrar’s Office.

Graduate

Non-Thesis Master Students

• Departments should notify their college dean of a proposed degree to be awarded posthumously.
• The dean’s office should consult with the student’s department to review the student’s academic record. If the student is within 9 credits of completing their degree requirements, is in good academic standing, and has support from the faculty, the dean’s office should request the approval of the posthumous degree by submitting a request to the Provost.
• The dean’s request should include the degree and the term for which the student should be awarded the degree posthumously.
• If the Provost approves the request, the college dean will be notified in writing, with a copy sent to the Registrar’s Office.

Thesis Master Students

• Departments should notify their college dean of a proposed degree to be awarded posthumously.
• The dean’s office should consult with the student’s department to review the student’s academic record. If the student has:
  • completed all formal coursework
  • made significant progress on research in the opinion of the research advisor, and
  • is in good academic standing

  the dean’s office should request the approval of the posthumous degree by submitting a request to the Provost.

• The dean’s request will include the degree and the term for which the student should be awarded the degree posthumously.
• If the Provost approves the request, the college dean will be notified in writing, with a copy sent to the Registrar’s Office.

Doctoral Students

• Departments should notify their college dean of a proposed degree to be awarded posthumously.
• The dean’s office should consult with the student’s department to review the student’s academic record. If the student has:
  • completed all formal coursework
  • been admitted to doctoral candidacy
  • made significant progress on research in the opinion of the research advisor, and
  • is in good academic standing

  the dean’s office should request the approval of the posthumous degree by submitting a request to the Provost.

• The dean’s request will include the degree and the term for which the student should be awarded the degree posthumously.
• If the Provost approves the request, the college dean will be notified in writing, with a copy sent to the Registrar’s Office.