Awarding of Posthumous Degrees

Authority: Academic Affairs
Date Enacted or Revised: October 6, 2015

In accordance with University of Louisiana System board rules (Part Two, Chapter I, Section VI), a deceased student who did not complete all requirements for their undergraduate degree at the time of death may be awarded a degree posthumously provided the following conditions are met:

  • The student had earned the appropriate cumulative or degree GPA.
  • The student was within one semester of completing all requirements for their degree.
  • The academic department head and dean of the deceased student’s primary major recommends the action.

When a degree is awarded posthumously, this action will be noted when the student’s name is announced at commencement and will be noted in the commencement program. The diploma will be presented to the immediate family of the deceased student by an appropriate official of the University.

All posthumous degrees will be reported to the University of Louisiana System office as they are awarded.

Communication

This policy is distributed via the Academic Advisory Council, the Administrative Advisory Council, and the University Policies webpage.