Posthumous Degree

Op3.04-52 Posthumous Degree Policy

A degree may be posthumously awarded on behalf of a deceased student if the following conditions are met.

  • The student was enrolled at the University within the 12 months preceding their death.
  • The student was in good academic and disciplinary standing with the University.
  • Undergraduate students must have completed at least 90 credit hours toward a degree at Missouri State and made significant progress in their major.
  • Graduate students must have completed at least two-thirds of the requirements toward a degree at Missouri State.
  • The request was received within two years of student’s death.

Requests for exceptions to the conditions above must be approved by the Degrees Committee.

The posthumous degree must be approved by the dean of the college from which the degree is being awarded, the Provost (or designee), and the President (or designee).

The procedures for implementation of this policy will be developed and administered cooperatively by the Office of the Provost and Office of the Registrar.

Posthumous Degree Procedures

Initial recommendation of a candidate for a posthumous degree may be made by a family member of the deceased student or by the appropriate department of the faculty to the Dean of the candidate’s college.

To be eligible for a posthumous degree the following conditions must be met:

  • The student must have been enrolled at the University within the last 12 months
  • The student must be in good standing with the University
  • Undergraduate students must have completed at least 90 credit hours toward a degree at Missouri State and made significant progress in their major
  • Graduate students must have completed at least two-thirds of the requirements toward a degree at Missouri State

If the Dean approves the recommendation, the Dean will be responsible for contacting the student’s family to ascertain the family’s wishes.

Upon Dean’s approval, the recommendation is routed to the Provost for approval and then to the President for approval. Approved recommendations should be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar for processing.

If deadlines allow, the student’s name will be printed in the commencement program. If the family wishes, a designated member of the student’s family may participate in the commencement ceremony and receive the diploma. The designated family member will not be allowed to wear academic regalia.

Appropriate transcript comments will be posted and the posthumous degree will be recorded by the Registrar.

The diploma and final transcript will be mailed to the student’s family.