6.220 Honorary or Posthumous Degrees

NPC Policy Number: 6.220

Scope

National Park College (“the College”) awards honorary and posthumous degrees on a selective basis. This policy sets forth the standards and procedures for granting honorary and posthumous degrees.

Policy Statement

Honorary Degrees

The Board of Trustees may deem it appropriate to award an honorary degree to any person based upon their outstanding contributions, achievements, or leadership during the course of a career and the extent to which such achievements exemplify the ideals and purposes of the College, including such persons who have a special connection to the College. Honorary degrees ordinarily will not be granted to any active trustee or to any currently employed faculty or staff member of the College.

Posthumous Degrees

Likewise, the College may grant degrees posthumously if the President, under the advisement of the Cabinet, determines that a deceased student has completed an appropriate amount of coursework and is in good standing with the College.

PROCEDURES/RELATED DOCUMENTS AND FORMS

Granting Honorary Degrees

Honorary degrees are awarded to distinguished individuals who merit special recognition for
outstanding contributions, achievement, or leadership in a field or activity consistent with the mission
and vision of the College.

1. The Board of Trustees, the National Park College Foundation, faculty, staff, students, and any
   other members of the College community may recommend individuals to the Vice President for
   Academic Affairs no later than March 15th.
2. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will relay nominations to the President, the President’s
   Cabinet, and the Chair of the Board of Trustees for consideration.
3. The President will make official recommendations to the Board of Trustees for the conferment
   of honorary degrees.
4. The Board of Trustees will vote to approve the recommendation to confer an honorary degree
   to qualified recipients prior to Spring Commencement.

Awarding an honorary degree to individuals approved by the Board of Trustees is subject to the
individual’s acceptance of the terms of the offer for the degree (e.g., attending the Commencement
ceremony) as established by the President and/or the President’s designees. Approved individuals who
are not awarded an honorary degree will remain eligible to receive an honorary degree at a later time
subject to the requirements listed above.

Granting Posthumous Degrees

Posthumous degrees in Arkansas are recommended based on the Michael Lawdon Branscum Act. These
degrees are awarded to students who were enrolled at the College at the time of death.

1. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will receive requests for granting posthumous degrees.
2. The Vice President for Academic Affairs, the President, and the Cabinet will make a determination to grant a posthumous degree based upon the following criteria:
   • The student was within one semester of successful completion of a degree
   • The student’s grade point average (GPA) met or exceeded the requirements for
     graduation
   • The student did not commit a felony at the time of death
3. The Registrar will be notified to issue the posthumous degree to a verified family member. 

The President reserves the right to make exceptions to these posthumous degree guidelines as
warranted by specific circumstances.