Postvention

What is Postvention at URI?

Postvention refers to the communications, supports, and activities that follow an untimely student death on campus. These elements are designed to decrease risk and promote healing for students and for others (INSPIRE in Postsecondary Ed., 2024).

Postvention is designed to acknowledge a loss, minimize suffering, and potentially save lives during a period when the institution is dealing with intense emotion and uncertainty.

Postvention Guidelines in Action

Many people will be impacted by an untimely death on campus; the university’s Postvention guidelines provide an effective plan of action for how best to support everyone on campus when that happens. 

Anyone who learns of a student death should contact the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. Under the guidelines, when a death is reported, the Vice President for Student Affairs immediately calls a response team made up of selected members of the Postvention Committee. The goal of this group is to assign tasks, mobilize resources and coordinate communications in response to what has occurred. The aim at every step is to facilitate the process for healing for those closest to the deceased, as well as the community at large.

This will never be easy, but with the URI Postvention Guidelines, a framework is in place to ensure a rapid and adaptable campus response.

Postvention Committee

Central to the Postvention concept is the idea that efficient coordination and communication around mandated administrative actions is part and parcel of supporting those affected by the death on an emotional level as well. Student Affairs oversees the Postvention Committee, which is made up of a multidisciplinary team of university representatives. The immediate goal of the committee is to assign tasks, mobilize resources and coordinate clear, concise communication, all with the aim of helping to begin the process of healing for those closest to the deceased, as well as the community at large.

For general questions regarding the committee, please contact the co-chairs or the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.

For direct questions regarding your department/division, please contact your specific university representative and the co-chairs of the Postvention Committee.

Committee Chairs

If you would like to request postvention support or have questions regarding the postvention process, contact the Postvention Committee Co-Chairs:

Dean Libutti
Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success
401.874.4408
dean@uri.edu

Dan Graney
Dean of Students
401.874.2098
dgraney@uri.edu

Committee Members

  • Thomas Cooley, Housing and Residential Life
  • Kayla Mosko, Housing and Residential Life
  • Pierre St. Germain, Dining
  • Rebecca Esty, Dining
  • Jacqui Springer, Student Support and Advocacy
  • Cory Clarke, Counseling Center
  • Jen Hodshon, Health Services
  • Chief Mike Jagoda, URI Public Safety
  • Shawn Miner, URI Public Safety
  • Matt McDonald, External Communications
  • Carnell Jones, Enrollment Services
  • John Cruz, University College for Academic Success
  • Shirley Consuegra, University College for Academic Success
  • Brenton DeBoef, Graduate School
  • Kristin Johnson, Global Initiatives/ISS/Study Abroad
  • Kara Larsen, Enterprise/Risk Management
  • Lauren Jensen, Office of the General Counsel
  • Thorr Bjorn, Athletics
  • Laura Kenerson, Human Resources
  • Lindsey Anderson, Psychological Consultation Center
  • Michelle Fontes, Community, Equity, and Diversity