SUNY Morrisville will consider the posthumous awarding of an Associate, Baccalaureate, or Graduate degree for a student who has met the following established criteria at the time of death:
- Associate degree: minimum of 30 credits completed toward the degree, with at least 6 credits completed in-residence at SUNY Morrisville.
- Baccalaureate degree: minimum of 60 credits completed toward the degree, with at least 6 credits completed in-residence at SUNY Morrisville.
- Graduate degree: minimum 50% of the required credits towards the degree completed, with at least 6 credits completed in-residence at SUNY Morrisville.
- Student was in good academic standing (cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher) and good conduct standing at the time of their passing. Consideration will be given to extenuating circumstances related to the student’s passing that may have impacted their standing.
A family member, survivor, or legal representative of the student must request the award of a posthumous degree, or a SUNY Morrisville representative may initiate the request with consent from a family member, survivor, or legal representative. This request must be submitted in writing to the SUNY Morrisville Office of the Registrar. The Registrar will verify the student’s passing and will review the request with the Academic Dean, make a recommendation, and forward it to the Provost for approval.
Related Information:
- Instructors will record grades of “P” for any in-progress courses on the student’s academic record.
- Latin honors may be awarded with a posthumous degree.
- Diploma and transcript will be issued in the standard format and will include the language “Posthumous Honorary Diploma” and the award date.
- The diploma will be mailed in a diploma cover with a letter from the President to the immediate family at the next degree conferral date.
- The campus President, or Provost as designee, may approve exceptions to cases that do not meet the above criteria.
- SUNY Morrisville may consider alternate honors for those who do not meet the above criteria and for whom an exception is not approved.