Posthumous Degree Policy

In the event of the untimely death of a student, Dunwoody may be contacted about having a degree conferred posthumously. A deceased student who did not complete all requirements for their degree at the time of death may be awarded a degree posthumously provided the following conditions are met: 

  • The student has completed a minimum of 75% of all degree requirements, including but not limited to all coursework, labs, and internships as defined in the student’s academic plan. 
  • The student was in good academic standing with the institution at the time of death. Good standing is defined as meeting academic GPA standards of 2.0 or higher. The student should not be under suspension or expulsion. 
  • The student was enrolled at the time of death or their continuous enrollment was interrupted by their injury, illness, deployment, or other circumstances that contributed to their death. 

If the individual does not meet the above requirements, the decision to move forward with the nomination process is at the discretion of the academic dean.

Nomination and Review Process 

  • Candidates for posthumous degree consideration may be submitted by anyone inside or outside the Dunwoody community, including faculty, staff, administration, or relatives of the deceased. Nominations should be submitted to the dean of the appropriate academic department to begin the formal process. 
  • The appropriate dean will work with the Registrar’s Office to complete a degree audit to verify the criteria as outlined above has been met. 
  • The dean will recommend the candidate for a posthumous degree in the form of a formal written request to the Deans Council. 
  • If supported by the Deans Council, the recommendation will be forwarded to the president for formal approval. 
  • The decision regarding the granting of a posthumous degree will be communicated back to the appropriate academic dean, who will then notify the nominator of the decision. If applicable, the department dean will also work with the Registrar’s Office to print and deliver the degree as necessary.