Checklist: Responding to a Student Death
Why Read This
In the unfortunate event of a student death, it is important for campus administrators to strike the right balance of empathy and professionalism in their response. Using this Cool Head, Warm Heart® approach, an institution can promote healing and trust by students, staff, and next of kin. However, failing to respond appropriately to a student’s death can lead to reputational damage, litigation, and campus division.
This checklist — designed to provide campus administrators guidance on how to consistently react with compassion — offers strategies to:
- Ensure relevant campus departments receive timely information about a student’s death
- Make sure the deceased’s family is notified and treated with compassion through difficult times
- Prepare or provide related helpful documents
- Gather and communicate information about the deceased student
- Support the campus community by seeking out those on campus who were close to the deceased, such as friends, teammates, siblings, or resident advisors
- Plan for memorial services
About the Author
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Alyssa Keehan, Esq., CPCU, ARM
Director of Risk Management Research & Consulting
Alyssa oversees the development of UE’s risk management content and consulting initiatives, ensuring reliable and trustworthy guidance for our members. Her areas of expertise include campus sexual misconduct, Title IX, threat assessment, campus security, contracts, and risk transfer. She previously handled UE liability claims and held positions in the fields of education and insurance.