Section 8-B309. POSTHUMOUS AWARDING OF DEGREES

 

309.1The University of the District of Columbia may award undergraduate and graduate, and law school degrees posthumously when appropriate criteria have been met and upon recommendation from the deceased student's major academic department and with the approval of the appropriate Dean and of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, unfulfilled graduation requirements shall be waived. The posthumous award of a degree recognized the academic achievement of the student in accordance with the standards and conditions established herein.

 

309.2Posthumous Baccalaureate and Associate Degrees will be awarded if, at the time of the student's death:

 

(a)The student was either (1) within 15 semester hours of completing the Bachelor's Degree or within 9 semester hours of completing the Associate's Degree or (2) was enrolled in the final semester leading to completion for the degree;

 

(b)The student was making progress toward the degree with an attained cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher; and

 

(c)The student was not involved in or suffering injuries sustained in or resulting from the student's commission of a felony.

 

309.3Posthumous Master's Degrees will be awarded if, at the time of the student's death:

 

(a)The student was either (1) within 9 semester hours of completing all requirements for the Master's Degree or (2) enrolled in the final semester leading to completion of the degree;

 

(b)The student was making progress toward the degree with an attained cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher; and

 

(c)If a thesis was a degree requirement, the student had completed enough research and prepared sufficient notes and outlines for a substantive thesis to be completed on schedule; and

 

(d)The student was not involved in or suffering injuries sustained in or resulting from the student's commission of a felony.

 

309.4Posthumous Juris Doctor Degrees will be awarded if at the time to of the student's death:

 

(a)The student was within one semester of completing all requirements for the Juris Doctor Degree;

 

(b)The student was in good standing at the David A. Clarke School of Law; and

 

(c)The student was not involved in or suffering injuries sustained in or resulting from the student's commission of a felony.

 

309.5Upon notification of a student's death by any reliable means, the Vice President for Student Affairs shall:

 

(a)Verify the circumstances of death; and

 

(b)Notify the Registrar to duly annotate the student's academic records; and

 

(c)Notify the appropriate Department Chairperson.

 

309.6Upon review of the student's academic record and verification that all requirements for a posthumous award are met and the approval of the department faculty, the Chairperson shall recommend to the Dean of the School or College that the student be awarded the appropriate degree posthumously at the next regularly Commencement ceremony.

 

309.7Upon verification of the fulfillment of all requirements for the award, the Dean shall forward the recommendation to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. If the Dean finds that one or more elements for the posthumous award of a degree is missing, the Dean shall notify the Department Chair that the recommendation is rejected.

 

309.8Upon review of the Dean's recommendation of posthumous degree award, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs shall notify the Registrar to order and record the degree, with the designation "awarded posthumously" and to include the student's name in the Commencement program. The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs shall also notify the President of the University and the Board of Trustees of the Award. If the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs finds fault with the Dean's recommendation, the Dean shall be advised of its rejection and the reasons therefore.

 

309.9Upon notification by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Registrar shall audit the student's record for compliance with all the requirements not only for the degree but also for posthumous award, and, if all is in order, shall record and order the posthumous degree.

 

309.10The Provost will notify the Office of Student Accounts to waive any unpaid graduation fees for the student.

 

309.11The posthumous award shall be announced publicly by the President and will be presented to a family member at the appropriate commencement ceremony. The name of the deceased recipient shall be read at the beginning of the respective College or School's list of names. If a family member is unable to attend the commencement ceremony, the Registrar's Office will send the diploma to the family member designated in the student's official file in the Office of the Registrar.

 

source

Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 5525 (July 7, 2006).