"To know what to say, what to do”: understanding the lived experiences and preparedness of faculty members to handle student bereavement

Abstract

Student bereavement remains a prevalent yet overlooked issue within university environments. Research highlights that formalised support systems, while widely established, are underutilised. This disconnect underscores the importance of recognising alternative informal support structures such as faculty members. When a bereaved student approaches a faculty member following the loss event, key questions arise: How does one react? Is there a 'right' way to respond? This study explores the spectrum of responses through examining the lived experiences and preparedness of faculty members at Nanyang Technological University. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six faculty members across different schools. The Constructivist approach to Grounded Theory was used for data analysis, resulting in the conceptualisation of the COM-PASS model, a framework of faculty responses to bereaved students. It comprises two segments: 'COM', articulating three core themes—Compassionate Comprehension of the Past, Orientation to Present Life, and Mapping for Future Care—and 'PASS', delineating the factors that influence the Personalization of responses: Academic mentors, Student, and Shared faculty-student factors. Findings from the study shed light on dynamic interplay between faculty and bereaved students and has implications for both practice and policy. These include the development of ground-up rapport-building initiatives and enhancing the clarity of faculty roles.