(a) Each institution of higher education is encouraged to establish a process for awarding a posthumous degree to a student who has died while enrolled in a degree program at the institution of higher education.
(b) A process established by an institution of higher education may include without limitation consideration of the student's:
(1) Level of completion in his or her degree program;
(2) Academic status; and
(3) Personal factors, such as circumstances of death.
(c) The institution of higher education or the parent of a student who died while enrolled in a degree program at an institution of higher education may initiate the process by requesting that a posthumous degree be awarded on the student's behalf.