Administrative Policy

Memorandum 16 - Notification of Accidents and Deaths

  1. Purpose

    To outline the procedure to be followed for University-wide communications regarding the death, injury or serious health impairment of a member of the faculty, staff or student body

  2. Policy

    It is the University's policy to swiftly, accurately and compassionately notify individuals in the event of an accident or death.

  3. Responsibility

    Overall responsibility for notification of accidents and deaths rests with the Director of Public Affairs. He/she must insure that all individuals identified on the contact list are notified. The Director of Public Affairs will be assisted as follows:

    • By the President and Commandant/Vice President of Student Affairs for all accidents and deaths involving students. These individuals will be responsible for initial contact with students' families.

    • By the Director of Human Resources, victim's immediate supervisor and appropriate Cabinet member for all accidents and deaths involving faculty or staff. These individuals will be responsible for initial contact with families.

  4. Implementation/Guidelines

    1. In most cases, the initial contact point is either Campus Security, the Dean's Office, the Commandant's Office or the Human Resources Office. These offices are responsible for notifying the Director of Public Affairs who, in turn, will be responsible for their notifying others on the contact list.

    2. No matter who is involved -- student, faculty or staff -- the Director of Public Affairs will notify all senior staff not listed on the contact list, immediately issue an electronic notice to the University community, publish a notice in the weekly Bulletin, publish an article in the alumni magazine The Record, and notify the student newspaper The Guidon and the student radio station WNUB.

    3. In cases involving a civilian student, the Dean of Students should contact the appropriate division head, department chair or program coordinator, academic adviser, the University Chaplain and President of the Student Senate.

    4. In cases involving a member of the Corps, the Commandant should notify the appropriate division head, department chair or program coordinator, academic adviser, the University Chaplain, the Assistant Commandant for that battalion and the Regimental Commander.

    5. In cases involving employees, the Director of Human Resources will notify appropriate department/division heads and the University Chaplain.

  5. Contact Office

    • Public Affairs: x2080