Plain Language Summary
# Mel's Law Summary **What the bill does:** Mel's Law would require colleges and universities that receive federal student aid funding to create official policies for awarding degrees to students who pass away before completing their degree programs. Students would be eligible for a posthumous degree if they were enrolled, died before finishing, and were in good academic standing at the time of their death (meaning they met graduation requirements). The bill also protects colleges from accreditation penalties for awarding these degrees. **Who it affects:** This primarily affects higher education institutions and their students' families.
Any college or university participating in federal student aid programs would need to establish this policy, and families of deceased students who were close to graduation could receive official degree recognition for their loved ones. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee (HR 468, 119th Congress), sponsored by Representative Nydia Velázquez (D-NY). It has not yet been voted on or passed.
CRS Official Summary
Mel's LawThis bill requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) that participate in federal student aid programs to establish policies for awarding posthumous degrees.Specifically, the IHE must certify that it has a policy to award a posthumous degree to a deceased student who (1) was enrolled in a degree program at the IHE; (2) died prior to completing such program; and (3) at the time of death, was in academic standing consistent with the requirements for graduation from such program (as determined by the IHE).The bill prohibits accrediting agencies from taking into consideration the number of posthumous degrees awarded to deceased students by the IHE. (Under current law, an IHE must be accredited by an accrediting agency to participate in federal student aid programs.)
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.