1. Overview

   The purposes of this policy are to provide clear and consistent communication with media and the public, to limit negative effects caused by the circulation of misinformation, to demonstrate respect for the families of students affected by tragedy, and to allow for delivery of support services to students and others affected by tragedy.

   Departments will communicate with each other and coordinate efforts in communicating to others in any circumstance involving the death or serious injury of a student.

   In all cases of medical emergencies or deaths, the name of a student will not be released to media until parents or next of kin have been notified, if at all possible.

2. Notifying the dean of students' office

   Regardless of where or when an incident may have occurred, any individual with information about a student death or serious injury should contact the office of the dean of students. In the event that the dean of students' office cannot be reached, the Ohio university police department ("OUPD") should be called and will reach out to the dean of students' staff person on-call. If the incident may involve a crime, it should also be reported to local police, if it hasn't been already.

3. Notifying the dean

   If an Ohio university regional campus student dies or is seriously injured, the regional campus dean will coordinate the university's response, consulting with the dean of students as needed. If an Ohio university Athens campus or eCampus student dies or is seriously injured, the dean of students will coordinate the university's response. If a student dies or is seriously injured outside of normal business hours, the on-call staff person for student affairs will begin to coordinate the response and notify immediately the dean of students and the vice president for student affairs.

4. Notifying the executive officers

   Once the initial facts and circumstances of the incident involving an Athens student or eCampus student are known, the dean of students or the vice president for student affairs will notify the president, the provost, and other executive officers and department heads, as appropriate. In the case of a regional campus student, the regional campus dean will notify the dean for university outreach and regional campuses, who will notify the president, the provost, and others as appropriate.

5. Notifying other university offices

   Upon receipt of a copy of an obituary, a death certificate, or newspaper article referencing the student's death, the office of the university registrar will update the deceased student's record accordingly in the student information system.

   In addition, the registrar's office will prepare and distribute a memorandum informing select departments of the university community of the student's death: office of the president; office of the vice president for student affairs; office of the dean of students; accounts receivable; admissions; bursar; career leadership development center; development; graduate appointments; housing; Hudson health center; payroll; student financial aid; information technology; Alden library circulation; university outreach and regional campuses (for regional campus students only); the college office of the deceased student, and eLearning student and academic services (for eCampus students only).

   If the deceased student was enrolled in the current term and took final exams, final grades will be recorded. Otherwise, a cancellation will be completed by the registrar's office and presented to the university review panel. Once approved, the college or regional campus will be sent a copy of the approval documentation. If the deceased student is enrolled for any future terms, those classes will be removed from his or her record. Information technology, upon receipt of notice from the registrar's office, will deactivate the university email account of a deceased student, placing a reply message on the account that refers any sender of an email to the office of the dean of students.

6. Public release of information

   All public release of information and commuinication with the media related to an Athens campus or eCampus student death or serious injury will be coordinated by university communications and marketing, in consultation with the dean of students and the Ohio university police department. In the case of a student from a regional campus, extension campus, or center, the corresponding dean will be consulted.

7. Death of a student

   If a student dies, notification of next-of-kin will be coordinated by the local police or the medical facility at which the student dies. When possible, OUPD will attempt to consult with the dean of students regarding such notification. In the case of a student from a regional campus, extension campus, or center, the corresponding dean will be consulted.

Reviewers

Proposed revisions of this policy should be reviewed by:

1. Vice President for Student Affairs

2. Dean for University Outreach and Regional Campuses

3. Regional Campus Deans

4. Athens Campus Deans

5. Deans, Directors of Centers and Extension Campuses

6. University Registrar

7. Chief of Ohio University Police Department

8. Executive Director of Communications and Marketing

9. Student Senate

10. Graduate Student Senate

Forms, References, and History

1. Forms

   There are no forms that are specific to this policy.

2. References

   There are no external items that are particularly relevant to this policy.

3. History

   Draft versions of this policy that were circulated for review, their cover memos, their forms, and reviewers' comments on them are available on the password-protected review site .

   Prior versions of this policy were approved on:

   1. April 18, 2007

   2. July 1, 1987

   3. August 1, 1986

   4. November 13, 1975

   5. June 29, 1971