Posthumous Degree
About This Policy
- Last Updated
- 09/03/2024
- Policy Owner
- Academic Affairs
- Responsible Office
- Academic Affairs
Montclair State University recognizes that the untimely passing of a student is a tragic event that deeply affects the academic community. The Posthumous Degree Policy at Montclair State University is designed to honor the memory of our talented students and acknowledge their dedication to academic excellence. A posthumous degree may be conferred upon a student who dies prior to but close to completion of all requirements of the degree being pursued. This policy outlines the guidelines and procedures for awarding posthumous degrees to students as a testament to their academic accomplishments and to offer a measure of consolation to their bereaved families.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a posthumous degree, the student must meet the following criteria:
- The student must be in good standing at the time of death
- The student must have completed a significant portion of the degree requirements, specifically:
- Undergraduate students must be within 30 credits of completing all requirements for their degree
- Graduate students must be within 9 credits of completing all requirements for their degree
- The faculty of the Department associated with the student’s primary major/degree program recommend awarding the degree.
Extraordinary circumstances
Cases that do not meet the conditions above may be considered for the conferral of a degree when extraordinary circumstances exist (i.e. the student died while carrying out a heroic deed, while performing outstanding service to the University, after completing an outstanding piece of research or creative project, etc). In such cases, the academic department/school, Dean, and Provost will be consulted prior to making a recommendation to the President and Board of Trustees.
Application Procedure
Upon receiving information about the passing of an enrolled student, the university will initiate the process of considering a posthumous degree. The application procedure will involve the following steps:
- Notification: The university must be notified of the student’s passing by an official source such as the student’s family, a faculty member, or a university staff member.
- Documentation: The university will require relevant documentation, including a certified copy of the student’s death certificate, academic transcripts, and any other supporting materials deemed necessary.
- Academic Review: A designated committee, consisting of academic advisors, faculty members from the student’s program, and university administrators, will conduct a thorough academic review and render a final recommendation.
- Approval Process: The committee’s recommendation for awarding the posthumous degree will be submitted to the appropriate university authorities for final approval. The decision to award a posthumous degree will be based on the committee’s evaluation and academic standing of the student at time of death.
Degree Conferment
If the application is approved, the posthumous degree will be conferred during the next commencement ceremony following the approval decision. The university will recognize the student’s family or a designated representative during the ceremony and present them with the posthumous degree diploma.