Policy 53
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Death Among Members of the University Community and Members of the Community Affiliated with the University
Policy #53
General Procedures – Whenever a death occurs among faculty, staff, students or former employees of the University, the following general procedures should be followed. In addition, special procedures must be followed whenever a student death occurs.
- The Chancellor's Office should be
notified as soon as possible whenever a death occurs, providing the following
information, name of deceased, title, department if a member of the faculty or
staff, name and address of immediate relatives, and any appropriate description
of the circumstances of death, e.g. auto accident, medical, etc.
- Chancellor's Office will notify the
appropriate vice chancellor, who in turn will notify the appropriate dean,
director, or unit supervisor.
- The Chancellor's Office will also notify
the Assistant Vice Chancellor for University Relations and Advancement or the
Director of Public Relations in his/her absence who will handle any release of
public information or any questions from the media.
- The Director of Public Relations will
notify the campus as a whole, when appropriate. Notification should be
time-sensitive based on the individual situation in consideration of FERPA
regulations.
- The Chancellor's Office will notify the
Parkside Police to fly the University flag at half-staff when the death of a
current member of the faculty, staff, or students occurs. The flag shall
normally be at half-staff for 24 hours commencing the day of the funeral.
- The Chancellor will send an official
letter of condolence.
- The University will not, as a general
rule, plan official memorial services. However, departments, offices, or
student organizations may elect to plan such services.
- The University generally will not send
memorial flowers/gifts, however, the Chancellor at his/her discretion may
direct this action; funding will be handled by the Assistant Vice Chancellor
for University Relations and Advancement.
- Memorial gifts may be made to the
UW-Benevolent Foundation in memory of the deceased. In order to establish a
named fund, at least $10,000 must be contributed. Other smaller gifts may be
given to the UW-Parkside Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund. Contributions
should be sent to the office of University Advancement. If someone wishes to make
a donation to something other than the UW-Parkside Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Fund, please direct them to contact University Advancement.
- In the event of the death of a community
member affiliated with the University, the Chancellor or the Assistant Vice
Chancellor for University Relations and Advancement will determine the protocol
to follow.
Procedures for Action/Consideration in the Event of a Student Death
- In the event of a death of a student who
comes from out-of-area or where the death has occurred on the campus, the
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Dean of Students will ensure
those parents, spouses, other immediate family, including roommates are
compassionately informed of the incident.
- The Associate Vice Chancellor will
notify the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor, and other Assistant Vice
Chancellors of the death. The Assistant Vice Chancellor for University
Relations and Advancement will handle any release of public information concerning
the student death in accordance with the Family Educational Rights to Privacy
Act (revised).
- For currently enrolled students, the
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Services will notify the academic deans,
instructors, and academic advisor.
- The Registrar will be informed of the
student death and instructed to change the official records for withdrawal and
billing purposes. (The Registrar will also work with the Cashier's Office to
determine eligibility for refunds.) If it was the student's last term of
enrollment before graduation, the Registrar will work with the appropriate
academic department and faculty committee in the possible posthumous awarding
of the degree. The Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Services will determine
the most appropriate means to present posthumous degrees to the family.
- In the event of the death of a resident
student, the Associate Vice Chancellor will inform the Director of Residence
Life. In conjunction with University Police and Public Safety, personal
property will be inventoried and secured. Arrangements with the family will be
made by the Director of Residence Life for picking up the personal belongings
of the deceased. The Director of Residence Life or the Dean of Students will be
on hand when the family comes to campus to pick up the personal effects of the
deceased students.
- The Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Services will write a letter of condolence to the family.