AA 2005-11

From time to time it is appropriate to award a certificate or degree to the family of a deceased CSUDH student who was near completion of the degree at the time of his or her death. Individual cases and circumstances vary and should be taken into account, but a posthumous award is not understood to be an automatic right or expectation. The awarding of a degree in this manner recognizes academic excellence and completion of a substantial portion of the requirements for the degree. The awarding of a posthumous degree may also take into account service to the university or community.

Policy:

To be considered for a posthumous degree, the student should have fulfilled the following requirements:

• Registration in good standing in a recognized CSUDH degree program within some part of the most recent academic year;
• Completion of at least 90% of the credit and coursework requirements in the chosen program, exclusive of thesis or other culminating project;
• Completion of at least two full-time semesters in residence at CSUDH;
• A grade-point average of 3.0 or higher for graduate students or a 2.0 or higher for undergraduates in all courses attempted as part of the degree program;
• Other program-specific requirements or outcomes identified by the degree program

If special circumstances apply, a Department Chair, a Dean, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, or the President may request to waive one or more of the requirements.

Procedures:

A request may originate with family members, CSUDH faculty members, community leaders or colleagues of the deceased student. The request should be transmitted to the Dean of the student's college, who will work with the appropriate Department Chair or program coordinator to confirm eligibility for the posthumous award together with appropriate letters of support from members of the university community. The decision to recommend the awards of a posthumous degree rests with the faculty of the student's undergraduate or graduate program.

The College Dean forwards the file and recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Studies (for a graduate degree) or the Dean of Undergraduate Studies (for an undergraduate degree) who makes a recommendation to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affair will communicate a decision to the President and to the Vice President for Student Affairs, who will work with the College Dean and· the family to arrange presentation. At the discretion of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the degree may be awarded either at a private ceremony or at the appropriate commencement exercise. If it is awarded at commencement, the print program will note that the degree was
presented posthumously.

All Revision & Review Approved Dates

Origination Policy Code AAGN006.001 renamed to AA 2005-11 in 2014.

Attachments and Links

N/A

Keywords

Administrative, Award

Approved Signatures

Executive

Approved: Allen A. Mori, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs

Date: 05/05/2005

Area Manager/Owner

Approved: Provost Office

Date: 05/05/2005

Older Version Approval Signatures

Approved: N/A

Date: N/A