RMIT University

Posthumous awards – 7.34.3.1

Procedure

Intent

This procedure describes the method by which an award may be conferred posthumously if a student should die after completing an RMIT program but before the conferring of the award.

Scope

This procedure will apply to awards where the Head of the School responsible for the program or a member of the deceased student's family has made a request for the award to be conferred posthumously.

Procedure

Application

An application for award form must be completed on behalf of the deceased student and lodged at the Student Administration Office of the Academic Portfolio/School responsible for the program. The application for award form may be completed by a member of the deceased student's family, an Administrative Officer responsible for processing award applications or by the Head of School responsible for the program.

Approval

The Head of School or duly authorised nominee will certify the eligibility of the deceased student to Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the Academic Portfolio.

Conferral

Once endorsed, the award will be listed for conferral as a posthumous award. It may be conferred in absentia and the award certificate forwarded by certified mail to the deceased student's family, after consultation between the Awards Unit and the Academic Portfolio/School responsible for the program. Alternatively, if a member of the family wishes to attend the conferring ceremony and accept the award on behalf of the deceased student, normal procedure for the conferring of an award will apply. When announcing the award, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) or nominee of the Academic Portfolio will state that the award is being presented posthumously.

Records

The death of the student will be recorded on the student data base and notation that the award was conferred posthumously entered in the appropriate awards register.

Posthumous awards – 7.34.3.1

Supporting documents and information

Related procedure

Further information

Posthumous awards – 7.34.3.1

Accountability

Revision number

Accountability

Pro Vice-Chancellor Students

Document ref

POL/2008/00032

Operational responsibility

Academic Registrar

Date approved

12 December 1983

Last reviewed

July 1998

Approval authority

Academic Board/ Board of Technical Studies

Next review