5006 Posthumous Degree Award Procedure

Policy

Policy Name:   Posthumous Degree Award  

Policy Number:   5006 

Applicable Code/Law:  N/A 

See also Student Death Protocol Procedure 1007  

A degree may be awarded to a student who dies prior to the completion of degree requirements if the following guidelines have been met: 

  • Requests for a credential to be awarded posthumously may be initiated by family members, friends, or associates of the deceased student to the Vice President of Student Affairs. Staff or faculty may also initiate this on behalf of the deceased student, their family, or associates. 
  • The Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs initiates the internal process after the request has been initiated; 
  • In coordination with the Care Team, a Shoreline College official verifies proof of death and relationship to family; 
  • Registrar or their designee verifies all of the following: 
    • The student was in good academic standing and earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at Shoreline College; 
    • The student was actively pursuing completion of a degree or certificate; 
    • The student successfully completed at least 75% of the credits required to earn the degree or certificate. 
  • The Dean of the degree-granting department approves the awarding of the degree. 
  • Posthumous credentials may be awarded at the discretion of a committee if a student does not meet all requirements noted above. This committee must consist of two members (at least one faculty member) of the Academic & Student Affairs Council and one member of College Council. 

If the request is approved 

  • Transcript: An annotation of POSTHUMOUS DEGREE will be entered on the official transcript. 
  • Diploma: The Office of the Registrar will arrange for a diploma to be created and provided to the family. The words “Posthumous Degree” will not appear on the diploma. 

Process: 

  • A request as outlined above is made for awarding a posthumous credential. 
  • In coordination with the Care Team, a designee from the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs gathers information from the family including student information, proof of death, contact information, relationship to the student - for the letter that accompanies the diploma, and the address to which the diploma should be mailed. 
  • The Shoreline College official submits the Posthumous Degree Request which is routed to the Office of the Registrar to verify the student's eligibility. The request is then routed to the dean of the department from which the student will earn a posthumous degree. 
  • The dean of the department sponsoring the awarding of the posthumous degree, indicates approval of sponsorship.  
  • Upon all corresponding approvals, the Office of the Registrar will award the degree and order the diploma. The degree is typically conferred at the end of the quarter in which it is requested. A letter will be created under the Office of the Registrar’s name to be sent with a letter of condolence to the family at the address indicated. 

 Approval

Reviewed and Approved by Executive Team: 06/23/2026