Posthumous Award of Coursework Qualifications of the University
(in accordance with Senate Resolution 249/99, amended by Council R7/04)
Preamble
From time to time the University receives requests for the posthumous award of qualifications. Some requests are for the award of qualifications for students who completed all requirements of the courses for those qualifications but died before formally taking out the qualifications; others are for the award of qualifications to students who died before completing all the requirements for their courses.
The University acknowledges that the posthumous award of a qualification can provide solace to family and friends and also be a memorial to a student’s life. At the same time it takes the view that the award of a posthumous qualification can only be justified in cases where students have either completed all or almost all of the requirements for the qualification.
This information sheet sets out the circumstances in which the University will consider requests for the posthumous award of coursework qualifications and the procedures for application and award.
Eligibility
Authority to award qualifications of the University, including posthumous qualifications, is vested in the Senate. Applications for the posthumous award of coursework qualifications will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration if they meet either of the following criteria:
(a) The student had completed all requirements for a course but had not formally taken out the qualification.
(b) The student had embarked on all remaining units required to complete a course, and in each of those units had completed either:
(i) sufficient assessable work to qualify for a pass; or
(ii) sufficient work at a high enough standard to enable the department concerned to make a reasonable judgement that, had the student lived, he/she would have passed the unit.
Application Procedure
Applications may be made by the family of a student, or by a friend or the faculty concerned on behalf of the family.
Applications should be made in writing and should include the full name of the student, the date of birth, his/her student number (if known), the name of the qualification for which he/she was a candidate and the name/s and address/es of the next-of-kin (if known)
Applications should be addressed to:
The Chair of the Academic Board
The University of Western Australia
35 Stirling Highway
Crawley
Western Australia 6009
Applications made by a faculty should be forwarded through the Dean, with a supporting case addressing the criteria in this document.
On receipt of an application the Chair of the Academic Board will consider it in light of the criteria in this document, in consultation, if required, with the appropriate Faculty Office.
If satisfied that the application meets the criteria in this document the Chair of the Board will forward it to the Senate, via the Vice-Chancellor, for consideration.
If the application fails to meet the criteria in this document, the applicant will be so advised in writing.
Award
If an application is approved by the Senate and the degree is conferred, the University Secretary will notify the Graduations Officer and the Executive Officer to the Vice-Chancellor. The Executive Officer to the Vice-Chancellor will write to the person(s) named as next of kin to confirm:
- If the next of kin wishes the name of the recipient to be published in the appropriate graduation ceremony programme (designated "awarded posthumously")
- If the next of kin wishes the award certificate to be presented at a small ceremony in the Vice-Chancellery for close family and friends, to be held at a time convenient to the family as soon as possible after the Senate meeting
- If the next of kin would like to be invited with up to five other close family members/friends to attend the relevant graduation ceremony in due course
The Vice-Chancellery and Graduations Officer may vary the precise details of these arrangements depending on individual circumstances.
If the next of kin prefers or if no response to the letter from the Executive Officer to the Vice-Chancellor is received, the awardee’s name will not be included in the graduation ceremony programme and the award certificate will be handed to, or posted by registered mail to, the next of kin.
[Posthumous_Award]
March 2004
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