Related Policies
Posthumous Degrees
Schools may be interested in conferring a degree posthumously in recognition of a deceased student’s work and as a source of solace to the student’s family.
Should a posthumous degree be conferred, a diploma is made available to the student’s family. A transcript is not produced.
Awarding a Posthumous Degree
The awarding of a posthumous Indiana University degree requires that the deceased student must have completed:
- 85% of credit hour requirements; and
- most requirements for the major.
Requests to award a posthumous degree should emanate from the dean’s office and must receive the approval of the campus vice chancellor for academic affairs and the campus chancellor.
Indiana University Degrees
Copies of the written request, plus the requisite approvals, should be sent to the student’s academic school recorder, the registrar, the campus alumni director and University Ceremonies. Generally, posthumous degrees are conferred during Commencement season, but not at the main graduation ceremonies. The intent is to honor the student and to celebrate his or her accomplishments in a meaningful way while avoiding an awkward public event that may not be of comfort to the family.
Posthumous degree conferrals vary case by case. Thus, each campus will be responsible for working with the family to determine the time and place for the conferral and for providing pertinent information about the candidate to University Ceremonies. Generally, the president will preside, with the chancellor and appropriate dean in attendance. The president, chancellor and dean should robe. There may be occasions when the president is not able to attend. In those cases the chancellor may confer the degree with advance approval of the president.
Source: IU Board of Trustee Policy
Procedures for Awarding Posthumous Degrees (USSS-03)
If requested by the family, in cases where a student does not reach the milestone to be awarded a Posthumous Degree approved by the Board of Trustee policies, a Certificate of Attendance may be produced.
The certificate should be written on IU Indianapolis letterhead or produced with official IU Indianapolis logo with the following language, signed by the Dean of the student’s school and the IU Indianapolis Chancellor. The certificate will be produced by the Office of the Registrar upon request from the academic unit and will read as follows:
Upon the recommendation of the Dean of <enter student’s school here> and approval of the Chancellor of Indiana University Indianapolis, a posthumous commendation is hereby conferred on <STUDENT NAME HERE> based on his/her attendance at Indiana University Indianapolis. This commendation is effective <enter date here.>
The Certificate will be provided by the Registrar to the Dean of the School for appropriate delivery to the family.
Approved by APPC, IFC Executive Committee. October 2014