Student Deaths in the last 10 years

Michael Conway made this Freedom of Information request to Glasgow Caledonian University

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Dear Glasgow Caledonian University,

Please provide me with information on the following:
1. For each of the past ten academic years (2008-09 to 2018-19), how many Glasgow Caledonian students have died while a student at the university?

2. Please provide, if possible, a breakdown by gender for each year.

3. For each of the past ten academic years (2008-09 to 2018-19), how many Glasgow Caledonian students have committed suicide while a student at the university?

4. The university’s rationale behind choosing to record or not to record student suicides.

5. University policy regarding all actions the university take after a student commits suicide

Yours faithfully,

Michael Conway

Freedom of Information Enquiries,

Dear Mr Conway

Glasgow Caledonian University has received your request for information. The University is currently processing this and will get back to you as soon as possible. It will be responded to under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Yours sincerely
Saki Nakamura

Saki Nakamura | Administrative Assistant
Department of Governance
Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA.
Email [email address]
Phone: 0141 331 3685

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Freedom of Information Enquiries,

3 Attachments

Dear Mr Conway

I refer to your request for information. The University's response is attached.

1. For each of the past ten academic years (2008-09 to 2018-19), how many Glasgow Caledonian students have died while a student at the university?
2. Please provide, if possible, a breakdown by gender for each year.

Please see the attached a table showing the number of student deaths in each session from 2012/13 to 2017/18 broken down by gender. The University does not hold this information prior to 2012/13 in line with our records retention schedule. There is no data available yet for the current session. The University is therefore relying on an exemption in the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 Section 17 (1) (b) Information not held.

3. For each of the past ten academic years (2008-09 to 2018-19), how many Glasgow Caledonian students have committed suicide while a student at the university? The University does not hold records on the reason for death. Therefore the University is relying on an exemption in the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 Section 17 (1) (b) Information not held.

4. The university’s rationale behind choosing to record or not to record student suicides. The University does not collect information other than the fact that a student has died as required for our HESA student submission. HESA only collects data under the category of "death" as a reason for ending a student's record. In addition, at a particularly sensitive time for all concerned, the University is not in a position to enquire into the reason for death.

5. University policy regarding all actions the university take after a student commits suicide The University has a Death of a Student Policy which is not defined by how the student passes away. A copy is attached

Please also find attached a review notice setting out the steps you may take if you are not satisfied with the response provided to your request.

If there are any questions in relation to this request, please contact the University at [Glasgow Caledonian University request email]

Yours sincerely
Jean Ash

Jean Ash
Information Compliance, Governance and Records Manager | Department of Governance

T: +44 (0)141 331 3341| F: +44 (0)141 331 8797 | E: [email address]
Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA,
Scotland, United Kingdom

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