蘑菇短视频

Death of a Student

Initially approved: April 7, 2026

Policy Topic: Student Activities and Services
Administering Office: Student Affairs

I. POLICY STATEMENT

蘑菇短视频 fosters a community of care and focuses on promoting safety and well-being for every member of our community. The death of a student requires the University to respond in a sensitive and caring manner, understanding that individuals respond to death in different ways. The University recognizes that the death of a student affects the entire University community, and in particular the family and friends of the deceased. The purpose of this Policy is to facilitate an orderly, effective, and caring response in the unfortunate event of a student death. 

 

II. STUDENT DEATH

1. Death On Campus
   
   The 蘑菇短视频 Police Department (鈥淯PD鈥�) should be notified immediately of any death on campus. UPD will contact the appropriate emergency medical provider to attend to the body, and will investigate any death on campus, regardless of the deceased鈥檚 affiliation with the University. UPD may request assistance from other local, state, or federal law enforcement partners.
   
   UPD will coordinate the notification of the death to the next of kin.  After UPD has notified the next of kin, they will inform the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs that the notification has been completed; the Vice Chancellor will then reach out to the family. 
2. Death Off Campus
   
   If a student death occurs off campus, the local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the death occurs will be responsible for investigating the death and for coordinating the notification to the next of kin. 
   
   In these instances, the student death may not be immediately reported to the University. As soon as an employee is aware of a student death, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs should be notified.
3. Cause of Death
   
   In North Carolina, only a medical examiner has the legal authority to determine the cause and manner of death. Accordingly, no University employee or person acting on behalf of the University should speculate as to the cause of death or make statements assigning responsibility for the cause of death. 
   
   However, this does not preclude discussions with appropriate University personnel to discern suitable actions to provide care and support to impacted individuals. These responses should be done without disclosing sensitive information. 

III. FAMILY COMMUNICATION 

Once the notification to the next of kin has been made, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs will contact the family. The Vice Chancellor will serve as the single point of contact for family members who wish to speak to faculty, staff and/or other students concerning the death.  Further, the Vice Chancellor will discuss the family鈥檚 wishes as to if and how the death will be shared with the campus community.

IV. CAMPUS-WIDE NOTIFICATION 

UPD will determine if there is an ongoing threat to the University community that warrants a Timely Warning to be sent pursuant to University Policy #116 Clery Act Compliance. 

The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs may send a campus-wide notification of the student death to employee email accounts if the family gives permission to do so. The type of information shared will depend on the setting, privacy laws, the known information, and the family鈥檚 wishes.

V. UNIVERSITY POSTVENTION COMMITTEE

The University Postvention Committee is hereby established to provide support and resources to the campus community upon notification of a student death. The Student Affairs Associate Vice Chancellor for Health & Wellness chairs the Postvention Committee and will convene the committee upon notification of a student death. The Postvention Committee is charged with creating and executing an effective plan to tend to campus needs after a student death. This plan should serve to stabilize the campus community and help it move forward. 

The Postvention Committee is comprised of representatives from the following:

• Student Affairs Associate Vice Chancellor for Health & Wellness, Chair
• Schlosser Family Center for Counseling & Psychological Services
• Health Services
• Dean of Students
• Enrollment Management and Student Success
• Legal Counsel
• University Police Department
• University Communications & Marketing

Representatives from additional offices will be included as necessitated by the situation.

The Postvention Committee will consider who needs support and how to provide that support. The Committee will help guide communications to provide information, help contain misinformation, dissuade contagion, and emphasize support to those who are in need. Specific responsibilities of the Committee include: 

• Assisting in coordinating the University鈥檚 response and in making communications to relevant members of the University community. 
• Identifying high-risk groups and individuals, as appropriate. 
• Facilitating the grieving or adjustment process.
• Helping to stabilize the environment.
• Reducing the risk of negative behaviors.

VI. MEDIA RELATIONS

Recognizing that social and electronic media allow for fast distribution of information and misinformation, the University may need to address issues related to campus safety and/or student mental health for the overall wellbeing of the campus community through targeted outreach or through the campus-wide notification.

All external media requests should be directed to University Communications and Marketing, which is responsible for disseminating information about a student death to the external media.

VII. CAMPUS MEMORIALS 

The University typically does not host official campus memorials in instances of a University community member鈥檚 death.

In the event a student organization or the student鈥檚 family wishes to pursue a vigil or memorial and wishes to use a university facility to do so, the Campus Activities staff will assist as appropriate.

VIII. POSTHUMOUS DEGREES

A student who dies while actively pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree may be considered for a Posthumous Degree. The criteria and process for the posthumous degree are outlined in the 蘑菇短视频Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs.

IX. DISCLOSURE AND RELEASE OF RECORDS 

Any requests for a deceased student鈥檚 records should be referred to the Legal Counsel Office. Records must not be released unless the request and responsive records have been reviewed by Legal Counsel and the release is approved by that office. All records or communications pertaining to a student death will be maintained consistent with 蘑菇短视频Policy 108 - Records Retention and Disposition. 

XI. RESOURCES

Schlosser Family Center for Counseling & Psychological Services

XII. POLICY REVIEW

This policy shall be reviewed and revised as necessary every four (4) years.