5.5.3 DIPLOMAS
Diplomas may be issued at a December or May Commencement Convocation. They may be issued by the Office of the University Registrar at other times when the degrees have been recommended by the Office of the Provost and approved by the Board of Trustees. Diplomas will be signed by the University President.
5.5.3.1 DIPLOMAS ISSUED TO GRADUATED STUDENTS
Pursuant to delegation from the Board of Trustees, the Office of the Provost establishes final policy on the informational content to be included on diplomas. Diplomas attesting to the award of degrees and honors may be issued at a December or May Commencement Convocation. They may be issued by the Office of the University Registrar at other times when the degrees have been recommended by the University Faculty and approved by the Board of Trustees (KRS 164.240).
Diplomas shall display the name of the University, the title of the degree and the name of the major being conferred, the authority under which the indicated degree is being conferred and signatures representing that authority (i.e., the degree program faculty being represented by the signature of the dean of the college that is academically responsible for the degree).
Each college dean shall attest to the Office of the University Registrar the names of graduates in their college who have met the conditions for the “degree honors.” The Office of the University Registrar shall ascertain the names of graduates who have met the conditions for the honors graduation credential. The honors shall be displayed on the diploma, along with the signatures of the attesting college dean and Office of the University Registrar.
Upon the recommendation of the Office of the Provost, the Board of Trustees may award, and prescribe conditions for, new categories of academic honors that are conferred only upon final Board action (pursuant to KRS 164.240).
5.5.3.2 IN MEMORIAM DEGREES
5.5.3.2.1 PURPOSE
The University seeks to provide the families of deceased students who had not completed requirements for a degree with a meaningful acknowledgment of the achievements and legacy of the student and, at the same time, uphold academic and institutional integrity. To meet these goals, the Board of Trustees has established a new category and title of Honorary Degree (Board of Trustees ASACR 1, April 1, 2014), In Memoriam Posthumous Degree (hereafter In Memoriam degree), to be conferred posthumously upon final action by the Board of Trustees.
5.5.3.2.2 CONDITIONS FOR CONFERRAL OF IN MEMORIAM DEGREES
5.5.3.2.2.1 ELIGIBILITY
An In Memoriam degree allows for recognition of a student’s connection to the University, regardless of their progress toward completion of degree requirements. Undergraduate, graduate and professional students who were registered in a degree program at the time of their death, but did not complete degree requirements, are eligible for an In Memoriam degree.
5.5.3.2.2.2 PROCEDURES
A proposal for conferral of an In Memoriam degree shall be initiated and processed as follows:
5.5.3.2.2.2.1 INITIATION AND ROLE OF THE DEAN
Upon being made aware of the deceased student by either the family or chair of the student’s home department, the office of the dean of the student’s college shall consult with the student’s degree program, the Office for Student Success and the Office of the University Registrar to review the student’s academic and disciplinary record, to confirm that, at the time of death, the student was in a UK degree-seeking status, and the student was in good academic standing.
5.5.3.2.2.2.2 ROLE OF THE OFFICE OF THE UNIVERSITY REGISTRAR
The respective office of the dean shall forward the request for an In Memoriam degree to the Office of the University Registrar. The Office of the University Registrar shall process the request and place the deceased student’s name on an In Memoriam degree list. The Office of the University Registrar shall forward the recommendation to the University President for transmittal to the Board of Trustees for final action.
5.5.3.2.2.2.3 DIPLOMA
Upon final approval by the Board of Trustees, the Office of the University Registrar shall prepare an In Memoriam degree diploma for the student’s family. The diploma document for this honorary degree title will be structured the same as for other honorary degrees.