Awarding Posthumous Degrees and Awarding Degrees in Instances of Terminal Illness

Policy Number: EP-2401

Policy Title: Awarding Posthumous Degrees and Awarding Degrees in Instances of Terminal Illness (view the SCEP policy)

Vice Chancellor/Associate Chancellor: Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Unit Responsible for Policy: Office of the Registrar

Effective Date: March 14, 2024

Contacts: Associate Registrar and Registrar

Policy Statement:

A degree may be awarded to a student who, at the time of death or upon diagnosis with a terminal illness, was actively enrolled or on an approved leave of absence at UIC, and substantially completed the required work for a degree. The following criteria must be met:

  • Actively enrolled in a degree-seeking program or on an approved leave of absence;
  • In good academic standing at UIC;
  • In good academic standing in their program;
  • Completed at least 75% of degree and credit hour requirements.

This policy is not automatic and must be initiated by the appropriate academic officer in the student’s program (e.g., director of undergraduate studies, director of graduate studies, program director, etc.). The academic officer should send a recommendation to the college dean for consideration with evidence of the student’s academic record. If the dean approves, they will forward the recommendation to the Office of the Provost for review. If approved, the Office of the Registrar will work with the program to notate the student’s degree and include their degree in commencement proceedings.

At this stage, the program academic officer may notify the family or designated personal contact that the degree has been approved and will be conferred at the next commencement ceremony.

The degree is available to all undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs at the discretion of the dean of student’s academic college.

In the case of a posthumously-awarded degree, the student’s transcript will be noted with the degree name and date and include the comment: “degree conferred posthumously.”

This policy will have no effect on the existing Certificate of Achievement policy, which will remain the appropriate designation for students not within reach of a degree. If the above criteria are not met, the academic program has the option of pursuing a Certificate of Achievement as an alternative.

Reason for Policy:

Students who have advanced far into their degree coursework will have been by that time an integral part of a close-knit community. When a colleague dies, or is so ill that death is imminent, it can be a significant loss to the other colleagues in the program. Acknowledging students’ accomplishments will provide an outlet for the grief of fellow students.

Additionally, this policy is a way to support the students’ families in a time of grief. This policy is a small way to demonstrate that UIC—as an institution and as a community of scholars—shares this grief with the family.

Minority Impact Statement: This policy could be applied to any student.

Who Should Read the Policy:  Department and college faculty and staff

Procedures: As noted above, a request must be initiated by the appropriate academic officer in the student’s program. The academic officer should send a recommendation to the college dean for consideration with evidence of the student’s academic record. If the dean approves, the recommendation will be forwarded to the Office of the Provost for review. If approved, the Office of the Registrar will work with the program to notate the student’s degree and include the degree in commencement proceedings. At this stage, the program academic officer may notify the family or designated personal contact that the degree has been approved and will be conferred at the next commencement ceremony.

Document History:
Approved by: Graduate College Executive Committee; Committee of Associate and Assistant Deans; Senate Committee on Educational Policy; UIC Senate
Approval date: 3/14/2024
Approved as: New Policy