Slippery Rock University may recognize a student’s work by conferring a degree or special certificate posthumously. In the event of an accidental death or fatal illness of a student, the university may confer the degree or certificate. The student will have completed all or nearly all of the requirements for a degree. The student will have completed at least one year at SRU for the award of a certificate.

Procedure: The family, or an academic department on behalf of the family, if requested, may initiate the nomination for a posthumous degree or certificate. The college undergraduate dean will be informed of the petition by the family or the academic department. The dean will provide a recommendation along with a verification of the student’s academic standing and degree progress to the Provost for approval. In the instance of a posthumous graduate degree, the appropriate college dean and the Director of Academic Records and Registration will provide a recommendation to the Provost for approval by the President.

Degree Conferral: The family may select one of two options:

1. The President or Provost may confer the degree in a quiet family ceremony at the university, with appropriate deans and faculty who knew the individual. Travel and accommodation arrangements for the family will be at the discretion of the family.
2. The degree may be conferred at commencement. The student’s name will be listed in the commencement program where it would have been if the student had been present. Family members will be asked to attend commencement ceremonies and will be seated in the front row of the commencement seating. When the student’s name is called a family member will walk across the stage and receive the posthumous degree.

Certificate Conferral: The family will receive a special certificate upon approval by the President.

Cabinet Approval December 20, 2004