A degree may be awarded to a student who dies prior to the completion of degree requirements if the following guidelines have been met:
The formal request (the posthumous degree form) should be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar. The Registrar will review the request and forward it, with a copy of the student record and a graduation degree audit, to the dean of the student's college for a final determination.
If approved, the formal request will be returned to the Office of the University Registrar for action (degree posted and diploma ordered) and the Office of the University Registrar will notify the family. If it is denied, the dean of the student's college will notify the family and include a letter of explanation.
At the UW (Seattle), college deans have full authority over the awarding of a posthumous degree within the college they represent.