Death of a Student

When a student dies, Auburn Cares is involved in a variety of functions in response to the tragedy. Our responsibility extends to the parents, spouse, domestic partner, roommate(s), and/or close friends of the deceased as well as the campus communities impacted by the student’s death. The immediate family directs much of this process with the support of the Auburn Cares staff.

Please contact our office with information regarding any student death.

Auburn Cares will notify various offices at the university to reduce unnecessary contact with the deceased student and/or their family. This includes notification to the Office of the Registrar and University Financial Aid. If the student is a resident of campus housing, notification to University Housing will also be made. Assistance with notifications also occurs for off-campus residents as well. When applicable, we also provide local funeral home and cemetery information.

Auburn Cares staff offer assistance to the student’s Auburn friends, roommate(s), peers, classmates and others impacted by the student’s death. Contact information for impacted persons can be called directly into the Auburn Cares office with a request for outreach. Impacted students may also call or come in for assistance. In the case of a roommate, assistance in temporary relocation of housing may be helpful/available.

Auburn Cares hosts an annual Memorial Service each year on the Sunday before spring commencement. We remember each Auburn student who died during the academic year. The service is open to families and all those affected by the loss of the Auburn student. It is important that Auburn Cares staff is notified of any student who has died, even if other services are not needed, so that we may include them and their loved ones in this service. We want to recognize their personal gift to us in being a member of our Auburn family.