Policy
To qualify for recommendation of an HPD, an undergraduate student must be in good academic standing at the time of death and have completed a minimum 85% semester credit hour requirements for his/her degree. For graduate students, 85% must reflect progress toward completion of course credits and research and thesis or dissertation. Progress determination will be made jointly by the student's faculty advisor, department chair, and dean of the Graduate School. The student must be in good academic standing at the time of death. HPDs will be granted in the major field only.

Procedure
The Honorary Posthumous Degree, upon recommendation of the academic school or department and college and approval by the University, is awarded posthumously as outlined below:

1. Academic departments of the candidate's major must present a written request for an HPD to the provost's office. Verification of the candidate meeting the above requirements should accompany the request. Solicitation of the department or school for the degree request should be initiated by a departmental or school faculty member or the student's family. The department or school must submit its request (through the dean if in a college) to the provost not less than two months prior to the commencement date desired for the degree to be awarded. In most cases, this date would coincide with the expected graduation term on file with the Office of Student Records and Registration. The provost will evaluate the request and respond to the department chair or college dean with his/her decision in a timely fashion.
2. The provost will recommend his/her approval of the HPD to the president also in a timely fashion.
3. If the recommendation for an HPD is approved, the president will write to the family announcing the degree's approval and will invite the family to the HPD ceremony as well as the University commencement ceremony. If the family accepts the invitation and the family confirms its intent to participate in the HPD ceremony, the major department or school is responsible for making the arrangements for the family's visit and participation in the ceremony in coordination with the university office coordinating commencement. The university office coordinating commencement shall provide the major department or school with the necessary information regarding ceremony protocol and logistics. The department or school should assign a faculty host to escort the family to all activities during its stay; in most cases, this should be the faculty sponsor of the HPD request.
4. The HPD will be awarded prior to the commencement ceremony at the commencement breakfast. Normally, the president will make the presentation to the family. The dean, department chair and, if applicable, sponsoring faculty member should be present. Arrangements for the presentation will be made by the university office coordinating commencement. In addition, the student's name and degree will be announced at the commencement ceremony and the student's name will be listed in the program with a notation after it indicating receipt of the HPD.
5. The department or school will pay for one night's lodging at a local hotel for the family (parents if the student was not married; parents, spouse, and children if the student was married; at its option, the department or school may accommodate additional family members) and for Friday evening dinner. If appropriate, the university office coordinating commencement will pay for the Saturday breakfast charge. The faculty host will be included in any invitations to commencement meals.

Draft of 25 August 2003