The awarding of a posthumous degree can be a compassionate means to acknowledge the educational rigor and commitment demonstrated by a student who was well on their way to completing their MICA degree. The awarding of a posthumous degree can be considered if the following criteria are met:

• The student must have been enrolled in a degree program or on a leave of absence and in good academic standing at the time of death.

• The student must have completed 75% of the required degree coursework. Courses that the student was currently enrolled in and likely to complete count towards this target.

• The student must have completed at least one MICA course within the last four terms.

• Situations with extenuating circumstances that do not meet the above criteria may also be considered by MICA and would follow the procedure for review outlined below.

 

Procedure

• The request for a posthumous degree may be initiated by either the student’s family or academic leadership of the student’s degree program.

 

• The request must be submitted to the provost, who will then ask the registrar to confirm that the student is eligible for a posthumous degree using the criteria above.

• Once the registrar has confirmed eligibility, the provost will make a final determination and, if applicable, forward the approved request to the registrar, department chair or graduate director, student affairs, and the student’s family.

• In the event that the request was made by academic leadership and the family has not been involved thus far, a letter will be sent to the family indicating that the college has approved awarding a posthumous degree. This letter will seek interest/ approval from the family.

• The registrar records the awarding of the degree on the student’s transcript and indicates that the degree is awarded posthumously.

• The college produces a diploma which includes the notation that the degree is awarded posthumously.

• The registrar includes the student’s name in the commencement program with an “Awarded Posthumously” designation.

• The provost in consultation with the registrar makes arrangements for the presentation or mailing of the diploma and commencement program to the student’s family.