Number
02.01.15
Division
Academic Affairs
Date
December, 2006, Reviewed October 25, 2021
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish a process to assign grades and/or withdraw a student from classes when an enrolled student dies during the semester.
Policy
Occasionally we must deal with a tragedy of having a student die during the course of a semester. It is important that the university deal with this issue in a sensitive manner and not offend the deceased student’s family. This policy establishes a process to assign grades and withdraw a student from classes when an enrolled student dies during a semester. When an enrolled student dies during a semester Student Affairs will take the following steps. If someone other than Student Affairs is notified of a student’s death during the semester, they should immediately notify the Office of the Dean of Students and Student Affairs will then follow the process.
Procedures
  1. Notify the Provost.
  2. Notify the Registrar.
  3. Notify the Dean of the College in which the student has declared a major.
  4. Notify the Chair of the Department in which the student’s major resides.
  5. Notify each faculty member responsible for any course in which the student is enrolled that semester.

If enough time has passed in the semester and the faculty member has enough information to give a grade, then they may exercise the option of assigning a grade of A, B, C, or P for the student. If it is too early in the semester to assign a grade or the faculty member does not wish to exercise the option of assigning a grade, then the faculty member and the department chair should send a written request to the Office of the Provost for the student to be given a posthumous withdrawal.

Review
Academic Affairs will review the policy every five years or sooner as needed.
Posthumous Grading or Withdrawal Options