Posthumous Degree - Awarding

A Posthumous Degree recognizes academic work completed by a student who has made progress toward completion of a degree but is now deceased. Awarding of a posthumous degree can help bring closure for the family of the deceased student as well as the University of Northwestern – St. Paul.  A family member of the deceased student may make a written request to the University for a posthumous degree.

To be eligible for consideration, the deceased student must have met the following:

• in good academic and disciplinary standing at the time of death
• cumulative and major GPA requirements of the student’s academic program
• achieved minimum cumulative grade point average
  • Undergraduate: minimum 2.00
  • Graduate: minimum 3.00
• was making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree at the University at time of death
• was enrolled in coursework that would complete degree requirements or was within approximately one semester of completing all degree requirements
• completed a minimum number or percentage of semester credits at University of Northwestern
  • Bachelor’s and Associate Degrees
    • Minimum of 30 semester credits
    • Minimum of 50% of the academic major
    • Graduate Degrees: minimum of 75% of graduate-level program credit requirement