Guidelines for Reporting a
Student Death

Notification
of Police

Notification of Residence Life Senior Staff Administrators

Notification of parents or next
of kin


Notification
of University Administration

Notification of Parents or Next of Kin

When a student dies at a Penn State campus, whether on or off campus or at a University sponsored event, the University Police, local police department, or senior administrative officer most knowledgeable or closely associated with the case will notify the student’s parents or next of kin on behalf of the University. Only established facts will be shared with the individuals notified. 

University Police usually are available and handle notification. However, in all cases notification of parents or next of kin will be handled as prescribed above except when a student death occurs under the immediate care of a hospital or a physician, the responsible administrator or clinician, according to unit policy, will notify the parents or next of kin.