Student Bereavement Policy
Students who experience the death of an immediate family member must contact the Division of Student Affairs, 2113 Boylan Hall, 718.951.5352, studentaffairs@brooklyn.cuny.edu, if they wish to implement either the Standard Bereavement Procedure or the Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure (see below). The Division of Student Affairs has the right to request a document that verifies the death (e.g., a funeral program or death notice).
Typically, this death involves that of a family member, in parallel to the bereavement policy for faculty and staff. However, it is up to the discretion of the Division of Student Affairs to determine if a death outside of the immediate family warrants implementation of the student bereavement policy.
Immediate family shall be defined as spouse; natural, foster, or step parent; grandchild; grandparent; mother-in-law; father-in-law; natural, foster, or stepbrother; natural, foster, or stepsister, natural, foster, or stepchild or any relative residing in the same household, the domestic partner of the student and a child or parent of the domestic partner or any other relative of the domestic partner living in the same household.
Standard Bereavement Procedure
Upon approval from the Division of Student Affairs, the student is allowed one week, commencing from the day of the death of the immediate family member, of excused absence. Should the student feel that he or she needs additional days, these should be discussed with individual course instructors and/or the Division of Student Affairs.
The Division of Student Affairs will contact the student's faculty and academic staff of the student's courses.
Faculty and academic staff will be advised that extensions must be granted to the student for the period of one week of excused absence.
Further extensions may be negotiated with the student when he or she returns to campus. Students are encouraged to discuss options with their instructors.
Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure
Students may be allowed to withdraw from the semester in which the death occurs.
The Bereavement Leave of Absence is for one semester only.
Students who have opted to take the Bereavement Leave of Absence and have already attended classes for the semester of the leave will be allowed to re-enter the following semester without having to reapply to the college. Students who wish to take the leave of absence prior to the beginning of the semester will be required to reapply for the following semester.
Students who are in good academic standing will be given the opportunity to successfully complete the credits for the semester in which they return.
Students will consult with the Division of Student Affairs, on a case-by-case basis, as to whether they should withdraw from their courses during this leave of absence or to request incompletes from the faculty member.
Given that there may be a potential impact on financial aid, students who receive financial aid and who take the Bereavement Leave of Absence, upon arrangement with the Division of Student Affairs, will meet with a financial aid adviser prior to taking this option.
As an option, and in consultation with the Division of Student Affairs, students may take the Bereavement Leave of Absence after the Standard Bereavement.
Additional Information
Reference to the Student Bereavement Policies will be noted on course syllabi.
Students requesting a religious accommodation should contact the Division of Student Affairs as well. The chief student affairs officer, or a designee, and the student will engage in an interactive process with the goal of finding an acceptable accommodation.
Please note, all information and documentation provided in support of these procedures must be accurate and authentic. Submitting falsified records or documents, and/or forging signatures will subject you to disciplinary action by the Office of Judicial Affairs.
Effective Date: March 26, 2018, and cannot be retroactively applied.
Revised: November 20, 2022
