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Board Liaison Office

Posthumous Degrees

It is the policy of the Board of Trustees, upon recommendation of the President, to award posthumous degrees to students who have successfully completed a substantial portion of their academic programs. Diplomas will specifically indicate that the degree is posthumous, with language citing the circumstances warranting the award. These diplomas may be presented at appropriate private ceremonies at the discretion of the President, and the commencement program will note that the degree is posthumous.

In alignment with this policy, pdfUAB has implemented guidelines for awarding posthumous degrees and certificates of recognition.

Process

  1. Faculty Letter of Recommendation
    Addressed to the respective Dean. The letter should state whether the student was in good standing, how many credit hours or coursework remained toward the degree, and other relevant details.
    (Refer to the guidelines for specific requirements for undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.)
  2. Dean’s Letter of Support
    Addressed to the Provost. Signature lines may be added to the Faculty Letter of Recommendation for the Dean and Provost to sign.
  3. Provost’s Office Review
    The Provost’s Office will forward the approved request to the Board Liaison, who will prepare a transmittal letter to the Chancellor on behalf of the President.
    The Provost’s Office should also notify the Board Liaison of the Commencement ceremony at which the proposed degree will be awarded.
  4. Board Submission
    Once the request is approved by the President, the Board Liaison will submit it to the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, including a notification of when UAB needs a decision for inclusion in the Commencement program/ceremony.
  5. Final Notification and Arrangements
    Upon receiving approval, the Board Liaison will notify the contacts in the Provost’s Office and Enrollment Management to proceed with arrangements for the presentation of the posthumous degree.

Note:
The family may choose to have a representative participate in the formal Commencement ceremony or may prefer a private ceremony. The Provost’s Office and Dean will work to ensure the degree is awarded in accordance with the family’s wishes.

Additional Resources

Schools and Deans may contact the Board Liaison for examples of previous submissions to assist in preparing their requests.