Shirtless calendar costs creator his BYU degree

PROVO — Selling a calendar of shirtless returned missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints first cost Chad Hardy his membership in the church.

Now it's cost him his Brigham Young University degree.

Hardy walked in BYU commencement ceremonies in August, but a BYU administrator informed him in a letter dated Sept. 30 that he had been deleted from the August graduation list and would not be awarded his degree in broadcasting.

BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins confirmed BYU has not granted Hardy a diploma.

"When a student applies for graduation, he or she must be in good standing with the university," Jenkins said.

The BYU letter said Hardy's degree is on hold because he was not in good honor code standing because of his excommunication. The LDS Church owns and operates BYU. The letter invited Hardy to contact the executive director of student academic and advisement services about his degree if he returns to good standing in the church.

Hardy completed the final requirements for his degree over the summer by completing two religion courses. Hardy was excommunicated by the church on July 13. Hardy had not been active in the church for six years.

The 2008 "Men on a Mission" calendar sold nearly 10,000 copies. The 2009 version was released in September.

— Tad Walch