Colleges would be required to offer degrees to students who died before finishing their studies.
This bill, called 'Mel's Law,' would require colleges and universities to create policies for awarding degrees to students who passed away before graduating. This means families of eligible deceased students could receive a degree for their loved one. It would also ensure that college accreditation doesn't depend on how many posthumous degrees are given out.
Today, federal law does not require colleges to have a policy for awarding degrees to students who die before graduating. After this bill, colleges would be required to establish such a policy to receive federal student aid, and accreditation agencies would not consider the number of these degrees when evaluating schools. These changes would take effect one year after the bill becomes law.
HR 468 · 119th Congress · January 15, 2025 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 8/10
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