Policy Statement

Sadly, students sometimes die prior to completing requirements for their degrees. In some cases, schools are interested in conferring the degree poshumously in recongition of the student's work and as a source of solace to the student's family.

Should a posthumous degree be conferred, a diploma is made available to the student's family. A transcript is not produced.

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Procedures

Indiana University Posthumous Degrees

• A candidate must have completed 85% of credit-hour requirements and most of the requirements for the major.
• Requests to award a posthumous degree should emanate from the dean’s office and must receive the approval of the campus vice chancellor for academic affairs, and the campus chancellor or provost.
• Copies of the written request, plus the requisite approvals, should be sent to the student’s school recorder, the registrar, the campus alumni director and University Ceremonies.
• Generally, posthumous degrees are conferred during Commencement season, but not at the main graduation ceremonies. The intent is to honor the student and to celebrate their accomplishments in a meaningful way while avoiding an awkward public event that may not be of comfort to the family.
• Several campuses have found that a small and dignified conferral before or after the main ceremony provides the right mix of celebration and condolence. In one example, the degree was presented to the family in a private room before the start of Commencement. The president spoke and presented the degree and the chancellor greeted the family. The family then attended the main ceremony. Their student was listed in the program and, in this case, was mentioned by the chancellor in remarks during the ceremony.
• Posthumous degree conferrals vary case by case. Thus, each campus will be responsible for working with the family to determine the time and place for the conferral and for providing pertinent information about the candidate to University Ceremonies, which will write a brief script. Generally, the president will preside, with the chancellor and appropriate dean in attendance. The president, chancellor and dean should robe. There may be occasions when the president is not able to attend. In those cases the chancellor or provost may confer the degree with advance approval of the president.

Source: University Policy VPSO-03

Commendation for Attendance

If requested by the family, in cases where a student does not reach the milestone to be awarded a posthumous degree approved by the Board of Trustee policies, a Certificate of Attendance may be produced.

The certificate should be written on IU Indianapolis letterhead or produced with official IU Indianapolis logo with the following language, signed by the dean of the student’s school and the IU Indianapolis chancellor. The certificate will be produced by the Office of the Registrar upon request from the academic unit and will read as follows:

• Upon the recommendation of the Dean of and approval of the Chancellor of Indiana University Indianapolis, a posthumous commendation is hereby conferred on based on his/her attendance at Indiana University Indianapolis. This commendation is effective

The certificate will be provided by the registrar to the dean of the school for appropriate delivery to the family.

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History

Approved by Academic Policies and Procedures Committee and IFC Executive Committee 10/6/2014

IUPUI changed to IU Indianapolis:  3-23-26
Purdue information was removed: 3-23-26

Policy revised to reflect University Policy VPSO-03 (https://policies.iu.edu/policies/vpso-03-posthumous-degrees/index (last revised 06-26-2025)

See also: https://facultystaffcentral.indianapolis.iu.edu/programs/conferral-commencement/posthumous-degrees.html

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