Posthumous Recognition of a Student Procedure - 61.07.02
College Policy Number/Title:
Definition and criteria:
When a currently enrolled student dies prior to completing requirements for a degree or meeting an academic goal at Howard Community College (HCC), that student may be recognized posthumously for the work completed at the college, as a gesture of compassion to the student’s family. There are two types of posthumous recognition, the posthumous degree and the posthumous certificate of recognition.
A posthumous degree is given when the deceased student was nearing completion of degree or certificate requirements. Criteria for the posthumous degree require that the student:
- completed 75 percent or more of the required courses;
- was enrolled in classes at HCC at the time of death; and
- was in good academic standing with the college as defined in policy 10.14, Academic Standards and Academic Procedures and procedure 10.14.01, Academic Standards.
If a deceased student does not qualify for the award of a posthumous degree, the student may be given formal recognition for studying at the college. A posthumous certificate of recognition may be given when the following criteria are met.
- The student has attempted at least 12 credits at the college; and
- The student was enrolled in classes at HCC at the time of death.
Process for posthumous recognition:
A member of the college’s faculty or staff or a family member of the deceased may request consideration for a posthumous degree or posthumous certificate of recognition. This request should be made to the office of records, registration, and veterans’ affairs, where it will be evaluated to confirm that the request meets the criteria. After evaluation by the office of records, registration, and veterans’ affairs, the request will be presented to president’s team for consideration. A request approved by president’s team will be presented to the college’s board of trustees for approval.
Posthumous degrees will be awarded and posthumous certificates of recognition generally are given at the college’s May commencement ceremony. Deceased students may be recognized in the commencement program and during the commencement ceremony.
Effective Date: 10/08/21
President's Office Use: PRES