Fayetteville Policies and Procedures  502.0 

Death or Serious Injury or Illness of a University Employee or Student: Notification and Response Guidelines

Initial or immediate notification should be made to the following administrative offices:

For a faculty or staff employee:

The department head (or the office of the department head) of the faculty or staff employee is to be notified immediately, and he or she will make the notifications indicated below:

  • Chancellor’s Office
  • Appropriate vice chancellor
  • University Relations, for public statements or information inquiries
  • Human Resouces, for beneficiaries notifications and official changes in status and benefits processing if needed.
  • In cases of on-the-job injury, the employee’s supervisor and the employee should contact Risk Management and speak with the university’s worker’s compensation coordinator to follow procedures for filing a claim.

For a student

The Associate Vice Chancellor & Dean of Students, General Student Services, 575-5004, is to be notified; if unavailable, call Assistant Vice Chancellor, General Student Services, 575-2064

  • If appropriate, the student's family will be called by either the Dean of Students or appropriate contact person in order to offer the sympathies of the University community and/or to coordinate assistance and support from the University.
  • Information regarding the death, serious injury or prolonged illness of a student will be sent by the Office of the Dean of Students to all necessary departments. Designated campus coordinators will be called. Depending on the student's local residence, the following designated campus coordinators will work with the appropriate person/group/college/department to coordinate a response. They will provide support for family, roommates, suite-mates, friends and significant others and request appropriate follow-up as indicated below.

Assistant Director of Residence Life and Dining Services: students living in residence halls – 575-3951
Assistant Dean for Greek Affairs: students living in fraternities or sororities, 575-5001
Associate Vice Chancellor & Dean of Students: students living off campus, 575-5004
Academic Counselor, Athletics: student athletes, 575-5705

  • The designated campus coordinator will begin discussion with CAPS and with those most closely involved regarding the best way to provide support and assistance.
  1. Upon notification from the designated coordinators, CAPS will be available to provide one-on-one grief or trauma counseling to members of the University community.
  2. CAPS will be available to units of the University (colleges, departments, offices, athletics, residence halls, and Greek houses) in devising a response to a death, injury or illness.
  3. CAPS will be available to provide consultation, services, and support to those dealing with grief or trauma.
  • The designated campus coordinator will consider groups/offices on campus that may be able to help, such as the Council of Religious Organizations.
  1. An appropriate campus minister will be available to groups or individuals for spiritual/grief related support. A list of the Council of Religious Organizations is provided below.
  2. When a memorial service is requested, CRO members will be available to assist.
  3. Campus ministers are available to consult regarding appropriate and inappropriate ways to work with family and friends.

CRO contacts:
Association of Baptist Students, 521- 8460
Baptist Student Union, 521-4370
Campus Crusade for Christ, 443-0097
Catholic Campus Ministry, 442-5371
Chi Alpha, 521-9218
Christ on Campus, 521-8358
Christian Student Center, 443-4102
First Baptist Church, 751-4523
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 521-2113
Grace Lutheran Church, 756-0020
Hillel Jewish Student Union, 575-5590
Latter-day Saints Inst. of Religion, 443- 0397
Missionary Baptist Student Fellowship, 442- 7093
Presbyterian and Disciples Center, 442-8041
Reformed University Fellowship, 521-3236
St. Martin's Episcopal Center, 443-4791
Student Mobilization, 582-5569
The Navigators, 575-3603
U.B.C. Collegiate Fellowship, 442-3536
University Lutheran Church, 442-4364
University Student Outreach, 582-2364
Wesley Foundation, 443-5226

  • If appropriate, the designated campus coordinator will call the Hall Manager/Chapter Advisor(s) and House Mother to assess the current situation and determine the best manner to use in notifying students. The notification process will take place with the assistance of people mentioned above.
  • If appropriate, the designated campus coordinator will immediately go to the hall/house and be available for grieving/traumatized students.
  • If appropriate, the designated campus coordinator will arrange for transportation to memorial/funeral services.
  • If appropriate, the designated campus coordinator will follow-up with the family members regarding packing, storing, and/or shipment of the deceased, injured or sick student's personal belongings.
  • The designated campus coordinator will arrange for staff members and officers in the hall or house to receive professional support throughout the grieving/trauma process.
  • If appropriate, the designated person within University Relations will release a statement to the media.

Revised January, 1999
May 16, 1994