Procedures for Awarding Posthumous Degrees
VPSO-03
About This Policy
- Effective Date:
- 12-25-1110
- Date of Last Review/Update:
- 06-26-2025
- Responsible University Office:
- Office of the Vice President for Strategic Operations
- Responsible University Administrator:
- Academic Leadership Council Executive Committee
- Policy Contact:
Associate Vice President for University Enrollment Services
- Policy Feedback:
- If you have comments or questions about this policy, let us know with the policy feedback form.
Scope
A foundational principle of Indiana University is its enduring partnership across its units, including faculty, to collectively advance the institution's mission. The establishment, revision, and retirement of academic policies will occur with consultation and input from the University Faculty Council.
Policy Statement
A candidate must have completed 85% of credit hour requirements and most of the requirements for the major.
Requests to award a posthumous degree should emanate from the dean’s office and must receive the approval of the campus vice chancellor for academic affairs, and the campus chancellor or provost.
Copies of the written request, plus the requisite approvals, should be sent to the student’s school recorder, the registrar, the campus alumni director and University Ceremonies.
Generally, posthumous degrees are conferred during Commencement season, but not at the main graduation ceremonies. The intent is to honor the student and to celebrate his or her accomplishments in a meaningful way while avoiding an awkward public event that may not be of comfort to the family.
Several campuses have found that a small and dignified conferral before or after the main ceremony provides the right mix of celebration and condolence. At IU South Bend, for example, a degree was presented to a family in a private room before the start of Commencement. The president spoke and presented the degree and the chancellor greeting the family. It took about 10 minutes, and was extremely moving. The family then attended the main ceremony. Their student was listed in the program and, in this case, was mentioned by the chancellor in her remarks.
Posthumous degree conferrals vary case by case. Thus, each campus will be responsible for working with the family to determine the time and place for the conferral and for providing pertinent information about the candidate to University Ceremonies, which will write a brief script. Generally, the president will preside, with the chancellor and appropriate dean in attendance. The president, chancellor and dean should robe. There may be occasions when the president is not able to attend. In those cases the chancellor or provost may confer the degree with advance approval of the president.
History
On June 20, 2023, this policy was renumbered from USSS-03 to VPSS-03.
On August 7, 2023, the policy contact information was updated.