An oversight by Ball State now means that the presentation of the posthumous degree promised to Michael McKinney, the student killed in November by a University Police officer, has been postponed.
Although the McKinney family was notified in the fall that Michael McKinney would receive the degree, the university did not attempt to contact his family until the day before Spring Commencement to determine whether the family would be in attendance. That attempt failed, and the degree was not presented, although it has already been approved.
"It's a done deal," Heather Shupp, executive director of University Communications said. "They just decided to hold off."
Tim McKinney, Michael McKinney's father, said he did not realize when Commencement was taking place until reporters began to contact him about the ceremony two days before. By then, he and the family already had plans for the weekend, including Mother's Day activities.
"We had no plans [to come] because we had no knowledge," Tim McKinney said. "I'm not sure we could have had I known enough in advance."
Tim McKinney said he did receive a voice mail from Lynne Richardson, dean of the Miller College of Business. He said he is unsure of how to proceed, but he does plan to contact the university.
"At some point in time, there should be a conversation between Ball State and my family," Tim McKinney said. "The gesture that they made by granting Michael a degree is greatly appreciated."
Dean of Students Randy Hyman said that, because Michael McKinney's next date of eligibility would have been at Summer Commencement, it is possible his degree could be awarded then. Ball State is waiting, though, to find out whether the family wants it presented at a ceremony, or simply mailed to them.
Without speaking to Ball State officials first, Tim McKinney would not say whether he would want to attend a commencement ceremony to receive the degree.
"We're open to listening to what Ball State has to say," Tim McKinney said. "Until that conversation takes place, everything I hear is hearsay."
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