University Student Initiatives Manual (USI)

USI 204–07 Table

Any member of the university community who wishes to recommend award of a posthumous degree must submit official notification of the student’s death to the Office of Student Life.

Student Life:

1. receives official notification of a student’s death

   and

2. notifies the University Registrar’s Office at the Tempe campus or, if the student is registered at the West campus, Registration Services at the West campus to post an administrative hold.

For requests regarding undergraduate students, the University Registrar’s Office at the Tempe campus or Registration Services at the West campus:

1. uses 100 total earned semester hours (which include 30 hours completed in residence at ASU) as a minimum guideline
2. sends the “Awarding a Posthumous Degree” memorandum and supporting documents (unofficial transcript and DARS audit or Program of Study) to the dean of the college in which the student was enrolled

   and

3. requests an audit of the student’s record for consideration of awarding a posthumous degree. The dean or designee reviews the student’s record in consultation with the school/department of the student’s major to determine if the student was in a degree program and qualifies for the awarding of a posthumous degree.

For requests regarding graduate students, the University Registrar’s Office sends the “Awarding a Posthumous Degree” memorandum and supporting documents (unofficial transcript and Program of Study, if applicable) to the dean of the college in which the student was enrolled and requests an audit of the student’s record for consideration of awarding a posthumous degree. The dean or designee reviews the student’s record in consultation with the school/department of the student’s major to determine if the student had made substantial progress toward completion of the degree (indicators could be, but are not limited to, completion of course work, completion of comprehensive examinations, or progress in thesis or dissertation).

Note: Completion of an Undergraduate or Graduate Program of Study or Declaration of Graduation by the college, if one is not already on file, is optional. If one is required by the college, the Program of Study or Declaration of Graduation should be completed by a member of the college staff.

The dean or designee signs the memorandum indicating approval or denial of the request or submits the memorandum/petition to the college standards committee for consideration, if applicable. If the request is not approved, the memorandum is returned with the appropriate signatures to the Graduation Section or Registration Services at the West campus, which notifies the individual who made the original request (i.e., faculty, staff, or family).

If the request is approved, the dean or designee forwards the approved memorandum to the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost of the University for undergraduate students, or to the dean of the Graduate College for graduate students.

The dean of the Graduate College reviews the college’s recommendation, verifies the student’s progress toward degree completion and forwards the recommendation to the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost of the University.

The Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost of the University reviews the request and notifies the University Registrar’s Office or Registration Services at the West campus of approval or disapproval by returning the memorandum with appropriate signatures. If the request is not approved, the University Registrar’s Office or Registration Services at the West campus notifies the individual who made the original request (i.e., faculty, staff, or family).

If approved, the University Registrar’s Office or Registration Services at the West campus:

1. posts the degree to the student’s transcript and orders the diploma at no cost to the family
2. verifies that an administrative hold is posted to the student’s record

   and

3. when the diploma is received, informs the college dean (or designee) that the diploma is ready for delivery.

The dean (or designee) sends or presents the diploma to the family.

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