Posthumous Degree Policy

Applies to:	Original Policy Date:	Date of Last Review:	Approved by:
Students, faculty, and employees	04/22/2020	02/16/2022	Dr. Marco Carvalho Executive Vice President and Provost

Policy Owner: Office of the Registrar

Policy Purpose

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

Policy Scope

This policy applies to students near completion of their degree who pass away prior to the degree being awarded and to those involved with approval and conferral of such degrees.

Policy Statement

A Posthumous Degree recognizes academic work completed by a student who made substantial progress toward completion of a degree prior to their death. The Posthumous Degree is a standard Florida Tech degree awarded posthumously according to the criteria detailed in policy guidelines.

Procedures/Guidelines

The family of a deceased student may contact the student’s academic department directly or reach out to the Registrar’s office for assistance.

The department head should notify their college dean of a proposed degree to be awarded posthumously.

The dean’s office will consult with the student’s department to review the student’s academic record. The dean’s office should then recommend to the Provost for approval of the Posthumous Degree.  The following criteria should be used:

• Undergraduate

  The student completed at least 80% of the requirements for their degree program, was in good academic standing, and award of the degree is supported by the major advisor.

• Graduate

  Non-Thesis Master Students
  The student was within nine credits of completing their degree requirements, was in good academic standing, and award of the degree is supported by the major advisor.

  Thesis Master Students
  The student completed all formal coursework, made significant progress on research in the opinion of the research advisor, and was in good academic standing.

  Doctoral Students
  The student completed all formal coursework, was admitted to doctoral candidacy, made significant progress on research in the opinion of the research advisor, and was in good academic standing.

The dean’s recommendation to the Provost must include the degree and the term for which the student should be awarded the degree posthumously.

If the Provost approves the recommendation, the college dean will be notified in writing, with a copy sent to the Registrar’s Office.

The Registrar’s office will work with the department of contact to gather any additional information that is needed.

Responsibilities

Academic departments are responsible for reviewing the student’s record to ensure Posthumous Degree requirements are met.

College deans are responsible for submitting the posthumous degree recommendation to the Provost in accordance with policy guidelines.

The Registrar’s Office is responsible to award the approved Posthumous Degree at the end of the term and mail the diploma to the family.