Student Services Manual (SSM)

Revised: 7/1/2012

SSM 204–07: Awarding Posthumous Degrees

1. Submit official notification of student’s death to the Office of the Dean of Students.

2. Receive official notification of a student’s death. Notify University Registrar Services to post an administrative hold on the student’s academic records.

3. Use 100 total earned semester hours (which include 30 hours completed in residence at ASU) as a minimum guideline. Send 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. Request an audit of the student’s record for consideration of awarding a posthumous degree.

4. Send the “Awarding a Posthumous Degree” memorandum and supporting documents (unofficial transcript and Program of Study, if available) to the dean of the college in which the student was enrolled. Request an audit of the student’s record for consideration of awarding a posthumous degree.

5. Review 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.

6. Review 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.

7. Sign the memorandum indicating approval or denial of the request or submit the memorandum/petition to the college standards committee for consideration, if applicable.

8. Notify University Registrar Services by returning the memorandum with the appropriate signatures.

9. For undergraduate students, forward the approved memorandum to the Office of the Provost of the University.
10. For graduate students, forward the approved memorandum to the vice provost for Graduate Education.

Vice Provost for
Graduate Education

11. Review the college’s recommendation, verify student’s progress toward degree completion. Forward recommendation to the Office of the Provost of the University.

12. Review the request. Notify University Registrar Services of approval or disapproval by returning the memorandum with appropriate signatures.

13. Notify the individual who made the original request (i.e., faculty, staff, or family).

14. Post the degree to the student’s transcript and order the diploma at no cost to the family.
15. Verify that an administrative hold is posted to the student’s record. If an administrative hold has not yet been posted, forward a copy of the approved memo to the Records Section.

16. Post the administrative hold.

17. When the diploma is received, inform the college dean (or designee) that the diploma is ready for delivery.

18. Send or present the diploma to the family.