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.
