Posthumous Degree Policy

Northern Michigan University confers posthumous degrees to acknowledge the academic achievements and other accomplishments of students who come close to finishing their degrees, but pass away while working to complete them. In this way, we pay tribute to those who embarked on their educational journey but were unable to reach its completion. 

The Posthumous Degree Policy includes a Degree in Memoriam.

Nomination for a Posthumous Degree

Eligibility

1. The student must have been enrolled and actively pursuing a degree at Northern Michigan University at the time of their passing (excluding the summer semester), unless their enrollment was disrupted by factors such as injury, illness, deployment, and similar circumstances.
2. For Associate Degrees, the student must have completed 45 credit hours, with at least 16 of those hours completed in residence at NMU.
3. For Baccalaureate Degrees, the student must have completed 90 credit hours, with at least 30 of those hours completed in residence at NMU.
4. For Graduate Degrees, the student must have completed 75% of the required credit hours, with at least 33% of those hours completed in residence at NMU.

Process

1. Any member of the university community (faculty, staff, or student) or a family member of the deceased may nominate a student through the Dean of Students Office. Nominators will work with a university representative from the Dean of Students Office.
2. Nominations will be submitted to the Office of the Registrar to verify eligibility.
3. Nominations that meet the eligibility requirements will then be submitted to the Academic Senate by the Office of the Registrar for consideration and approval.
4. If approved by the Academic Senate, the nominator will be notified, and the family will be informed of the award.
   a. Academic Departments will contact the families of declared students, or
   b. The Dean of Students will contact the families of undeclared students.
5. If approved by the Academic Senate, the Office of the Registrar will post the degree to the student’s transcript and produce a diploma at no cost to the family. 
6. The Office of the Registrar will mail the diploma and any letters of support to the family.

1. The student must have been enrolled and actively pursuing a degree at Northern Michigan University at the time of their passing (excluding the summer semester), unless their enrollment was disrupted by factors such as injury, illness, deployment, and similar circumstances.
2. Undergraduate students are required to have completed a minimum of 12 credits in residence at NMU, while graduate students must have completed at least 6 credits in residence at NMU.

Process

1. Any member of the university community (faculty, staff, or student) or a family member of the deceased may nominate a student through the Dean of Students Office. Nominators will work with a university representative from the Dean of Students Office.
2. Nominations will be submitted to the Office of the Registrar to verify eligibility.
3. If a nomination is eligible, the nominator will be notified, and the family will be informed of the award.
   a. Academic Departments will contact the families of declared students, or;
   b. The Dean of Students will contact the families of undeclared students.
4. The Office of the Registrar will produce the certificate and mail it and any letters of support to the family.

Academic Admissions and Policy Committee,
Kevin Berry NMU Posthumous Policy, April 23, 2024.