11.08.99.R1 Awarding of Posthumous Degrees Rule

Effective: April 21, 2005

Supplements System Policy: System Policy 11.08

1. GENERAL

Texas A&M University-Commerce may award a graduate or undergraduate degree posthumously when a student has substantially completed all requirements for the degree. Also, the student must be in good academic and citizenship standing at the time of death.

Customarily, degrees awarded posthumously will be noted on the commencement program and a member of the deceased student's family will be permitted to participate, upon approval, in the commencement in which the deceased student would have been eligible to participate. The student's diploma will be mailed to the person legally authorized to manage the deceased student's affairs.

2. POSTHUMOUS BACHELOR’S DEGREE

2.1 The appropriate bachelor’s degree may be awarded posthumously if, at the time of death, the student is enrolled at Texas A&M University-Commerce in the semester in which the degree would have been conferred. In the case of summer graduation, enrollment in the first summer term or second summer term would meet this requirement.

2.2 The degree would be awarded only upon the recommendation of the student's major department, college dean, the Faculty Senate, the provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, and the University president. Any exceptions to the rule or procedure on awarding of posthumous degrees must be approved by the University president.

3. POSTHUMOUS GRADUATE DEGREE

3.1. Any request for a posthumous graduate degree award for a student must be initiated by the chair of the student’s graduate advisory committee and submitted to the college dean. The request must include a positive recommendation from the student’s academic department. The degree would be awarded only upon the recommendation of the student's graduate advisory committee, major department, college dean, graduate dean, the Graduate Council, the provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, and the University president.

3.2 For a graduate degree requiring a research project (dissertation, thesis, or research paper), all course work must have been completed with passing grades at the time of the student’s death. Substantial progress toward the completion of the research project should have been made.

3.3 For a graduate degree not requiring a research project, the student at the time of death must have been enrolled in courses that would have completed the degree requirements.

3.4 Any exceptions to the rule or procedure on the awarding of a posthumous degree must be approved by the University president.

Contact for Interpretation: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs