Office of the University Registrar

Posthumous Degree

Awarding Posthumous Degrees at the University of Washington (Seattle)

The death of a University of Washington student is a loss shared by the full University. We extend our condolences to the family and friends of the student, as well as to the academic unit and all impacted UW community members.

For students who were within two quarters of meeting their graduation requirements, family members will often ask for consideration of a posthumous degree to be awarded.

University Policies for a Posthumous Degree Request

A degree may be awarded to a student who dies prior to the completion of degree requirements if the following guidelines have been met:

  1. Request is made by student’s family to a UW school official;
  2. The UW school official initiates the UW Posthumous Degree Request form;
  3. Office of the Vice President for Student Life verifies proof of death and relationship to family;
  4. Student was within two quarters of graduating;
  5. The Dean of the degree-granting college approves the awarding of the degree.
  6. For graduate students the request also requires approval from the Dean of the Graduate School

If the request is approved, an annotation of POSTHUMOUS DEGREE will be entered on the official transcript and the Office of the University Registrar arranges for a diploma to be created and provided to the family, per their instructions. The words “Posthumous Degree” will not appear on the diploma.

UW School official must log in with their UWNetID to access the UW Posthumous Degree Request form.

The Posthumous Degree policies and request form described on this webpage applies to undergraduate and professional students at the UW Seattle campus.

Posthumous Degrees for UW Campuses

Refer to the following links, forms, and policies for UW Bothell, UW Tacoma, and the Graduate School.

Posthumous Degree Request Approval Process

  • Family of the student reaches out to a UW school official to inquire about the awarding of a posthumous degree.
  • The UW School official who was initially contacted gathers information from the family including student information, contact information, relationship to the student for the letter that accompanies the diploma, and the address to which the diploma should be mailed.
  • The UW School official submits the UW Posthumous Degree Request which is routed to the Office of the Vice President for Student Life. The review process will have them verify the information gathered by the UW official.
  • The Office of the Vice President for Student Life works with the family to obtain proof of death and connection to the family. The Office of the Vice President for Student Life routes the UW Posthumous Degree Request to the Office of the University Registrar (OUR).
  • The OUR verifies that the student was within two quarters of earning their intended degree and routes the UW Posthumous Degree Request to the dean of the college or school from which the student will earn a posthumous degree.
  • The dean of the college or school sponsoring the awarding of the posthumous degree, indicating approval of sponsorship, routes the UW Posthumous Degree Request to the OUR.
  • The OUR will award the degree and order a diploma. A letter will be created under the University Registrar’s name to be sent with a letter of condolence to the family at the address indicated.

Assistance

For questions or assistance with this process, please contact Dr. Helen B. Garrett, University Registrar, Office of the University Registrar at registra@uw.edu.