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ROWAN UNIVERSITY POLICY

Title: Response to Death of Student or Staff Member
Subject: 
Policy No:  
Applies: University-Wide
Issuing Authority: President
Responsible Officers: 
Adopted: 
Last Revision: 9/11/19
Last Reviewed: 9/11/19

I. PURPOSE

These guidelines are intended to assist University employees as they respond to a student death. While some campus officials play more active roles in responding to student crises, it is important for all University faculty and professionals to understand response processes. Although the University strives to respond in a consistent manner, the specific facts and circumstances of any crisis may lead the University to adjust the actions suggested in these guidelines.

II. ACCOUNTABILITY

Under direction of the President, the University Executive Management Team, shall implement and ensure compliance with this policy.

III.  APPLICABILITY

This policy should be used to support a response to the sudden death of any student, faculty or staff that will likely impact the University Community.

IV. DEFINITIONS

Emergency Operations Team (EOT), as outlined in the University’s emergency plan: The EOT is activated based on the type and nature of the incident. It is used to manage the operational aspects of the University’s response to an emergency event, in this case a crisis resulting from student or staff death. While select EOT members could include any of the following, leadership from The Wellness Center, Public Safety, University Relations, Student Affairs and Dean of Students will represent the initial EOT in response to a student death.Department of Public Safety and Office of Emergency Management

1. Wellness Center
2. Environmental Health and Safety
3. University Relations
4. Dean of Students
5. Residential Learning & University Housing
6. Transportation and Parking
7. Business Services
8. Facilities and Operations
9. Purchasing
10. Controller
11. Information Resources & Technology
12. Human Resources
13. Risk Management
14. Executive Management Team (EMT), as outlined in the University’s emergency plan: The EMT will evaluate information from various sources during the progress of the event and advise the University President on appropriate actions requiring his/her decision. The EMT is also responsible for the review and approval of the Emergency Operations Plan. Members include:
    1. University President
    2. Chief of Staff and Liaison to the Board of Trustees
    3. Provost / Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
    4. General Counsel’s Office
    5. Senior Vice President for Finance / CFO
    6. Senior Vice President for Facilities and Operations
    7. Senior Vice President for Public Safety and Office of Emergency Management
    8. Assistant Vice President for Public Safety and Office of Emergency Management
    9. Vice President for University Relations
    10. Executive Vice President for Policy and External Relationships/Partnerships
    11. Associate Vice President of Global Learning & Partnerships at Camden
    12. Dean of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
    13. Dean of Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
    14. Senior Vice President for Information Resources and Technology
    15. Senior Vice President of Health Sciences
    16. Senior Vice President Division of Student Affairs
15. SMART: The Stress Management and Response Team (SMART) was established to provide a form of crisis intervention specifically designed to help the Rowan community cope with highly stressful or traumatic events. SMART is made up of administrators, professional staff, faculty and support staff from across the Rowan University campus. These team members are trained in crisis response. The team is available for both death notifications and trauma support meetings. The team can arrange a meeting site and time or be available at a normally scheduled time/place for your class/group.

VI. REFERENCES

1. Emergency Preparedness policy: https://confluence.rowan.edu/display/POLICY/Emergency+Preparedness  
2. Emergency Operations Plan

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