3.02.1 Honorary Posthumous Degree Procedure

Effective: 04/25/2024
Senate Proposal: No
Responsible University Officer: Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Responsible Office: Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Introduction

The following process provides the steps needed to request Honorary Posthumous Degrees.

Process

1. When a student who has not fulfilled all criteria for graduation passes away during their pursuit of a degree, a request for an honorary posthumous degree may be initiated by
   
   
   1. the student’s academic advisor or other appropriate person within the student’s major department; or
      
      
   2. the student’s family. 
      
      
2. The initial request for an honorary posthumous degree may be conveyed either to the Office of the Provost or the Dean of Students Office. 
   
   
3. Upon initiation, the request will be circulated to the Provost, Dean of Students, General Counsel, Vice President for University Relations and Enrollment, Vice President for Student Affairs, and the Chief of Police (the Honorary Posthumous Degree Committee). 
   
   
   1. Within ten (10) business days, these individuals or their designees will participate in a meeting and will confer and, at a minimum, review: 
      1. The student’s academic standing;
      2. The student’s conduct and financial standing; and
      3. Whether the student was the subject of a criminal or other university or non-university-related investigation at the time of their passing.
         
         
   2. Following the conclusion of the meeting, the Committee will
      
      
      1. Recommend the academic department review the case and make a recommendation in writing to the Provost regarding the conferral of the honorary degree or
         
         
      2. Note that an investigation is ongoing and schedule a subsequent meeting to confer after the anticipated conclusion of the investigation date.  No decision may be made regarding the conferral of an honorary degree during the pendency of an investigation or
         
         
      3. Make a determination that the awarding of an honorary degree is not recommended.
         
         
   3. If an academic department is asked to review the case and make a recommendation regarding the conferral of the honorary degree, the academic department will do so within twenty (20) business days.
      
      
   4. Upon receipt of a recommendation from an academic department, the Provost will evaluate the recommendation and make a recommendation to the President regarding the conferral of an honorary degree.
      
      
   5. If the President recommends conferral of the honorary degree, that recommendation will be made to the Board of Trustees, which carries the sole degree-granting authority for Michigan Tech.  

Adoption Date

04/25/2024: Approved by the President