Board of Trustees

Policy and Procedures for Awarding a Posthumous Degree

Approved by the Board of Trustees on March 27, 1998; Reaffirmed on August 3, 2018.

REQUIREMENTS

The awarding of a posthumous degree by Purdue University requires that the deceased student will have completed: (1) at least 85% of credit hour requirements; and (2) most requirements for the major.

For awarding of a posthumous degree requiring a thesis, the following additional provisions will apply: (1) the student must have completed the research to the extent that a thesis, or one or more articles in lieu of a thesis, can be prepared; and (2) the advisory committee must approve the research and results, including a thesis or article(s), and recommend granting the degree.

PROCESS FOR APPROVAL BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Baccalaureate, Associate, and Professional Degrees

  • A recommendation from the college/school faculty must be endorsed by the dean.
  • The dean of the college/school and/or chancellor of the campus, as appropriate, must submit the recommendation to the provost for transmittal to the president. The names of the candidates approved by the president will be submitted to the Board of Trustees for final action.

Graduate Degree

  • A recommendation must be submitted to the head of the department/school by the major professor only after the requirements specified above have been fulfilled.
  • The head of the department/school must submit a request to the dean of the Graduate School. The head of the department/school may choose to recommend awarding a non-thesis degree instead of a thesis degree. 
  • The Graduate Council must endorse a recommendation from the dean of the Graduate School.
  • The endorsement must be submitted to the provost for transmittal to the president.
  • The names of the candidates approved by the president will be submitted to the Board of Trustees for final action. 
FEES

No additional fees will be assessed for a posthumous degree.

Award a Posthumous Degree Policy (PDF)