{"id":1958,"date":"2025-12-18T10:02:20","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T15:02:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/?page_id=1958"},"modified":"2026-03-11T13:54:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T17:54:37","slug":"posthumous-degrees","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/policies\/posthumous-degrees\/","title":{"rendered":"Posthumous Degrees and Certificates of Accomplishment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-umflint-templates umflint-template-default_no_jumbotron\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);min-height:50px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-8123\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www-s3.umflint.edu\/wp\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/2025\/03\/Blue.UCEN_.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#FFF\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-bootstrap-blocks-container container mb-2\">\n\t\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-secondary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-255252dd16b73ed7460070256f9e2198\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);font-size:clamp(31.152px, 1.947rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 1.863), 55px);font-style:normal;font-weight:600;text-transform:uppercase\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-secondary-color\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-secondary-color\">Posthumous Degrees and Certificates of Accomplishment <\/span><\/mark><\/h1>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-bootstrap-blocks-container container mb-2\">\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-bootstrap-blocks-row row\">\n\t\n\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-3\">\n\t\t\t\n<button class=\"btn btn-section w-100 px-0 wp-menu-block-toggle mobile-nav-toggle d-none\" data-target=\"wp-menu-block-side-menu\">\n          <span class=\"h-100 mr-3 mt-1 d-block mobile-nav-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"mb-1 transition bg-dark d-block mobile-nav-icon-line\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"mb-1 transition bg-dark d-block mobile-nav-icon-line\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"mb-1 transition bg-dark d-block mobile-nav-icon-line\"><\/span>\n\t\t  <\/span>\n          Office of the Provost<\/button><nav id=\"wp-menu-block-side-menu\" class=\"wp-menu-block sidebar-nav wp-block-umflint-menu-block\"><div class=\"nav-sidebar-title-container\">\n                <div class=\"nav-sidebar-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\">Office of the Provost<\/a><\/div>\n                <a class=\"nav-sidebar-title-close\" href=\"#\" data-target=\"side-menu\" aria-label=\"Close\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"50\" fill=\"currentColor\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                        <title>close<\/title><path d=\"M19,6.41L17.59,5L12,10.59L6.41,5L5,6.41L10.59,12L5,17.59L6.41,19L12,13.41L17.59,19L19,17.59L13.41,12L19,6.41Z\" \/>\n                    <\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n            <\/div><ul id=\"menu-side-menu\" class=\"menu nav nav-sidebar flex-column\"><li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-60\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-60 nav-item\"><a title=\"Academic Affairs\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/academic-affairs\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Academic Affairs<\/a><\/li>\n<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-1271\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1271 nav-item\"><a title=\"Leadership Searches\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/leadership-searches\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Leadership Searches<\/a><\/li>\n<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-63\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-63 nav-item\"><a title=\"Communications\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/communications\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Communications<\/a><\/li>\n<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-1625\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1625 nav-item\"><a title=\"Current Newsletter\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/newsletter\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Current Newsletter<\/a><\/li>\n<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-57\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-57 nav-item\"><a title=\"Faculty &amp; 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Thompson, M.D. Distinguished Visiting Professorship<\/a><\/li>\n<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-25\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-25 nav-item\"><a title=\"Academic Events\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/academic-events\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Academic Events<\/a>\n<ul class=\"subitems-menu\" >\n\t<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-147\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-147 nav-item\"><a title=\"Commencement\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/registrar\/graduation-and-commencement\" class=\"nav-link\">Commencement<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-174\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-174 nav-item\"><a title=\"Common Read\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/commonread\" class=\"nav-link\">Common Read<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-1030\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-1030 nav-item\"><a title=\"Critical Issues in Education\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/critical-issues-in-education\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Critical Issues in Education<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-16\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-16 nav-item\"><a title=\"Resources\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/resources\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Resources<\/a>\n<ul class=\"subitems-menu\" >\n\t<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-1409\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-1409 nav-item\"><a title=\"Interfolio\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/resources\/interfolio\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Interfolio<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/www.schema.org\/SiteNavigationElement\" id=\"menu-item-13\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-13 nav-item\"><a title=\"Contact Us\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/contact-us\/\" class=\"nav-link\">Contact Us<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-9\">\n\t\t\t\n<nav aria-label=\"breadcrumb\"><ol class=\"breadcrumb mb-3\"><li class=\"breadcrumb-item\"><a href=\"\/\">Home<\/a><\/li><li class=\"breadcrumb-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\">Office of the Provost<\/a><\/li><li class=\"breadcrumb-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/policies\/\">Provost Policies<\/a><\/li><li class=\"breadcrumb-item active\" aria-current=\"page\">Posthumous Degrees and Certificates of Accomplishment<\/li><\/ol><\/nav>\n\n<div class=\"wp-bootstrap-blocks-container container mb-4 wp-block-wp-bootstrap-blocks-container container mb-4\">\n\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c\">Posthumous Degrees and Certificates of Accomplishment for Deceased Undergraduate and Graduate Students<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Policy Type:<\/strong> Tri-Campus Policy (Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint)<br><strong>Date Issued:<\/strong> June 14, 2021<br><strong>Office Responsible:<\/strong> Office of the Provost \/ Office of the Registrar<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c\">Posthumous Degrees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A posthumous degree will not be awarded as a matter of course but there are limited circumstances where it may be appropriate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.469), 1.25rem);font-weight:700\">Eligibility Guidelines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>These are the guidelines to begin the process of consideration:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The student was in good academic standing and was making normal progress toward a degree.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For an <strong>undergraduate student<\/strong>, this requires that the student had obtained senior status.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For a <strong>graduate student<\/strong>, this requires the student had completed at least three quarters of the credits required for the degree.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A student who did not attend classes for one year or longer will not be eligible for a posthumous degree unless there is a documented, prolonged medical reason for not attending class.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The awarding of any posthumous degree requires the strong support of the student&#8217;s school or college and the department.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These requirements may be waived only in exceptional circumstances after thorough discussion by and consensus of the offices involved in this process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rackham Graduate Students:<\/strong> Graduate students enrolled in the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies must have completed all requirements to receive a degree after death. No exceptions will be granted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.469), 1.25rem);font-weight:700\">Process for Consideration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the process for considering whether to grant a posthumous degree:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Request Submission:<\/strong> The Dean of the school or college of record may submit a request for a posthumous degree with supporting documentation to the Registrar. The Dean may receive requests from the surviving family members or others.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Notification:<\/strong> The Dean will notify the Provost in Ann Arbor or the Chancellor at Flint and Dearborn, as appropriate, and the Vice President and Secretary that the request was submitted to the Registrar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Requirements Review:<\/strong> The School\/College will determine if the requirements stated above have been met and will notify the Dean of that determination. If the requirements are met the Dean may then reach out to the family to obtain their support for continuing the process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If Not Supported:<\/strong> If the Dean does not support the granting of a posthumous degree then the Dean will notify the Registrar and the Dean or Registrar will notify the family if they have been contacted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If Supported:<\/strong> If the Dean supports granting a posthumous degree then the Dean will provide the supporting documentation to the School or College Executive Committee\/Faculty Governing Committee, which will determine whether to recommend approval or denial of the request.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Final Determination:<\/strong> The recommendation of the Executive Committee\/Faculty Governing Committee will be sent to the Dean, the Registrar, the Provost (Ann Arbor) or the Chancellor (Flint or Dearborn) and to the Vice President and Secretary. The Provost or Chancellor and the Vice President and Secretary will consult and make a determination on granting the degree.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Notification of Decision:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>If approved:<\/strong> The Registrar or Dean&#8217;s Office will notify the family, post the awarding of the degree (to the next closest conferral date), and send a copy of the transcript with the degree posted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If denied:<\/strong> The Registrar&#8217;s Office or Dean&#8217;s Office will notify the family.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As appropriate, the Registrar will post the degree with a notation that the degree was awarded posthumously.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Degree Delivery:<\/strong> Posthumous degrees will be mailed or delivered to the family and will not be presented during commencement ceremonies.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.469), 1.25rem);font-weight:700\">Sample Transcript Notation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default\"><strong>Degree(s) Awarded:<\/strong> Bachelor of Arts* DD-MM-YYYY<br><strong>Comment:<\/strong> *Bachelor of Arts Degree conferred DD-MM-YYYY granted POSTHUMOUSLY.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c\">Certificates of Accomplishment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When a deceased student had completed at least one semester and was in good academic standing (2.0 or above), the family may be given a Certificate of Accomplishment that is signed by the Dean of the School\/College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.469), 1.25rem);font-weight:700\">Eligibility and Process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table table table-bordered\"><table><thead><tr><th>Last Enrollment<\/th><th>Process<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Within past 5 years<\/strong><\/td><td>Certificate awarded automatically upon confirmation by the Registrar<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>More than 5 years ago<\/strong><\/td><td>Considered upon family request; decision made by Dean of School\/College<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c;font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.469), 1.25rem);font-weight:700\">Certificate Requirements Summary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Student completed at least one semester<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Student was in good academic standing (GPA 2.0 or above)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certificate is signed by the Dean of the School\/College<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#00274c\">Posthumous Degree vs. Certificate of Accomplishment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table table table-bordered table-striped\"><table><thead><tr><th>Criteria<\/th><th>Posthumous Degree<\/th><th>Certificate of Accomplishment<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Academic Standing<\/strong><\/td><td>Good standing, normal progress<\/td><td>Good standing (2.0+ GPA)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Progress Required<\/strong><\/td><td>Undergraduate: Senior status<br>Graduate: 75% of credits completed<\/td><td>At least one semester completed<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Approval Process<\/strong><\/td><td>Dean \u2192 Executive Committee \u2192 Provost\/Chancellor<\/td><td>Registrar confirmation or Dean decision<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Signed By<\/strong><\/td><td>University officials (formal degree)<\/td><td>Dean of School\/College<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Delivery<\/strong><\/td><td>Mailed to family (not at commencement)<\/td><td>Provided to family<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>For questions about posthumous degrees or certificates of accomplishment, please contact the Office of the Registrar or the Dean of your School or College.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"744\" src=\"https:\/\/www-s3.umflint.edu\/wp\/blogs.dir\/8\/files\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-18-at-10.00.28-AM-1024x744.png\" alt=\"Certificate of accomplishment from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, with placeholders for student name, degree, date, and dean's name. The word &quot;SAMPLE&quot; is diagonally across the image.\" class=\"wp-image-1961\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www-s3.umflint.edu\/wp\/blogs.dir\/8\/files\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-18-at-10.00.28-AM-1024x744.png 1024w, https:\/\/www-s3.umflint.edu\/wp\/blogs.dir\/8\/files\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-18-at-10.00.28-AM-300x218.png 300w, https:\/\/www-s3.umflint.edu\/wp\/blogs.dir\/8\/files\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-18-at-10.00.28-AM-768x558.png 768w, https:\/\/www-s3.umflint.edu\/wp\/blogs.dir\/8\/files\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-18-at-10.00.28-AM.png 1258w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1o-yjWU7OKwGWgK8BL-f0anxLVrLSAsSr\/view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Print-only Posthumous Degrees and Certificates of Accomplishment for Deceased Undergraduate and Graduate Students<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/policies\/posthumous-degrees\/\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":1824,"parent":1796,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1958","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1958","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1958"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1958\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2037,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1958\/revisions\/2037"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1796"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}