Policy 3.7 - Awarding Posthumous Degrees

Date: November 17, 2025, Resolution #25-128

Supersedes:
May 15, 2023, Resolution #23-60

Purpose

This Policy provides the process for the recognition and awarding of a degree to an eligible student who was enrolled at SUNY Schenectady at, or prior to, their death. Posthumous degrees are provided to the family of the deceased student as a meaningful acknowledgement of the student’s accomplishments while attending SUNY Schenectady.

Definitions

N/A

Policy

SUNY Schenectady may award a degree/certificate posthumously in recognition of a student’s work and satisfactory progress towards degree/certificate at the time of death, provided the following conditions are met:

  1. A family member, survivor, or legal representative of a student must request the award of a posthumous degree or certificate from the Registrar, or a campus representative may initiate the request in which case the campus must obtain consent from a family member, survivor, or legal representative.
  2. The campus must receive official verification that the student has passed away. This can be verified with an official death certificate or verified obituary.
  3. The student must have been in good academic and conduct standing at the time of their passing, with consideration given to extenuating circumstances related to their passing that may have impacted their standing.
    1. Associate Degree: A posthumous Associate’s Degree will be awarded on a case-by-case basis determined by the Division Dean, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the Registrar.
    2. Certificate: A posthumous Certificate will be awarded on a case-by-case basis determined by the Division Dean, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the Registrar.
    3. Honors will be awarded:
      1. 3.20 – 3.69 = Honors
      2. 3.70 – 4.00 = High Honors
  4. A diploma and final transcript will be issued to the family at no charge. The transcript will not be counted in campus reporting to SUNY or external agencies.
  5. Consideration of posthumous degrees or certificates may be submitted at any time.
  6. The campus President, or Vice President of Academic Affairs as designee, may approve exceptions to cases that do not meet the above criteria
  7. Campuses may consider alternate honors for those who do not meet the above criteria and for whom an exception is not approved.

Unconnected to any campus, the SUNY Chancellor or designee, may, in their sole discretion, award a posthumous degree on behalf of the SUNY Board of Trustees.

Pending the dean’s review of the records provided by the Registrar’s Office, the division/school dean in which the student was enrolled must submit a letter of recommendation to the Vice President for Academic Affairs to support the award of the degree or certificate or cite specific reasons for not making the award. The Vice President for Academic Affairs, upon review of the dean’s recommendation, shall submit a memo to the President outlining their recommendation. The President, retaining the right to accept or deny the Vice President’s recommendation for any reason, shall forward any approvals for the award of posthumous degrees or certificates to the Board of Trustees for consideration.

Pending the approval to award a posthumous degree or certificate by the Board of Trustees, the Registrar’s Office will print the deceased students’ diploma. Posthumous degree and certificate award counts will not be included in any reporting associated with the College’s completion rates.

Awarding

Posthumous degrees and certificates will be printed in the commencement program within the appropriate college division/school. The statement “awarded posthumously” will be printed on the student’s academic record, but not on the diploma.

  1. The award of the degree will be read during the graduation ceremony, unless explicitly requested otherwise by the family.
  2. Should they wish to do so, a family member may accept the posthumous degree or certificate on behalf of the deceased student during the graduation ceremony.
    1. In the event that a family member is not present to accept the deceased student’s degree, the Registrar’s Office will send the diploma to a designated family member or their legal representative.