University of Michigan-Flint
Guidelines on awarding posthumous graduate degrees
The Office of the Registrar asked the Graduate Programs Committee to address a
comment made on the undergraduate posthumous degree policy dated December 21,
2001. The comment stated, “The issue of graduate degrees has not yet been addressed.”
On January 13, 2009, the Graduate Programs Committee approved the following policy:
A graduate degree can be awarded if the following five conditions are met:





The degree is awarded from a non-Rackham school or college
At least 90% of the degree requirements for the program in which the student was
enrolled have been completed (regardless of the number of completed credits) or
at the time of death, the student was enrolled in the final semester of study in all
courses necessary to complete degree requirements
The GPA is at least the higher of 5.0 or the degree requirement
There is a compelling reason
The program faculty in the student’s program of study recommends such a degree
In all other cases, the respective dean should consider sending a letter of recognition or a
certificate of achievement.