Awarding Posthumous Degrees

Policy

Student must have 75% of coursework completed (No more than 31.5 credit hours remaining).
Student must have been in good academic standing at the time of his or her death (above a 2.0 cumulative grade point average and not suspended from the college).
The student must have registered for one or more CCS classes within the last four semesters.
The academic record of the student must demonstrate that the student would have been expected to successfully complete all academic requirements necessary for graduation.
CCS has discretion to award posthumously under extenuating circumstances.

The name of the student must be forwarded to the Registrar who will determine eligibility. If the student is eligible, this information is forwarded to the Academic Dean and the Chair of the Department.
The Registrar will require a copy of the death certificate.
The Academic Dean will approve awarding of a degree posthumously based upon completion of all of the requirements of the approved policy.
The approved request will be forwarded to the Registrar, Department Chair, and Student Life.
The notation “posthumous” will appear on the transcript and in the graduation program but not on the diploma.
The Registrar will contact the family and agree on how and when the degree is to be presented.
If the degree is to be presented at the graduation ceremony a family member or designate can receive it and the Registrar will inform that person for receiving the certificate at the ceremony.
If the degree is not presented at commencement, the Registrar will make arrangements with the family for receipt of the diploma. In some cases, the degree may be presented in a private room or awards ceremony before commencement, with the President saying a few words to the family beforehand. President and Dean should attend and be robed in such a case.
The Department Chair will sign off on the graduation.
The graduate fee will be waived at no cost to the family.
All holds on the student record will be removed.
Financial obligations will be viewed on a case-by-case basis.