Building Compassionate Campuses
to support higher ed students who have experienced a loss
When Loss Touches a Student’s Life, Support Matters Most
Grief can change everything for a college student. Research shows that more than 30% of students will lose a parent, caregiver, or sibling during their college or graduate school years. For many, this loss is compounded by being away from home, far from family, and expected to keep pace with academics and campus life.
Without meaningful support, grieving students often feel isolated and overwhelmed — and too many struggle with their mental health, academics, and sense of belonging. Yet most colleges and universities lack policies or systems to address these very real challenges. On any given campus, there may be hundreds of grieving students navigating loss largely on their own.
The Parmenter Foundation launched UGrieve to close this critical gap in care and ensure grieving students have the resources, understanding, and community they need to thrive. Our mission is to foster campuses where compassion is built into the culture, and where every student, faculty member, and staff person feels empowered to support one another through the grieving process.
UGrieve in Action
Our work combines education, partnership, and expert guidance to create a culture of compassion that truly supports grieving students.
Key components of UGrieve include:
6 million +
Of the 18 million+ college students in the US, every year, more than 30% will lose a parent, caregiver, or sibling, amounting to more than six million young adults who are bereaved.
Watch these videos to learn more about the varioius perspectives on college grief and why our UGrieve program is such an important initiative to improve support for higher ed students and administrators.
So many questions and new feelings may arise:
Who do I notify when learning that my family member has died?
I feel devastated. My mind is cloudy and I’m struggling to make sense of things. Can somebody help me to navigate all of this?
My professors are each offering very different accommodations. Some of them are compassionate and some are not. What do I do? How do I respond?
Can I change my classes to pass/fail? Should I take a semester off?
Which friends do I tell? Will they know how to respond to me?
Are there grief support groups or counselors available on campus?
Is it ok to socialize with my friends when I return to school after the funeral? I feel guilty!
Recognizing the Signs Additional Support is Needed and Where to Find It
Grief can affect people in different ways and sometimes it can lead to moments of deeper distress. This section offers guidance on how to recognize when you or a peer may need extra help and where to turn for support.
Signs a Grieving Peer Needs Additional Support
Learn how to recognize when someone may be struggling and what to do next. This video walks through common warning signs and offers simple, supportive ways to check in and help someone get the support they need.
Where to Find Additional Support
Most colleges and universities do NOT have programs or policies in place to answer these questions and provide comfort and support for their students.
You Can Help
You can help The Parmenter Foundation with our initiative to address these issues and foster more compassionate and resilient college campuses!