Date of Award

2022

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education

Abstract

The issue of what to do in response to suicidal students is anything but a clear one” (Harshbarger, 2014, para. 3). How to best support students with severe mental illness is an ongoing challenge for institutions of higher education. Institutions must adapt to a rapidly changing landscape of evolving federal policy, case law, and notable public incidences. Thisdissertation examined two universities in crisis and how their policies evolved after the related incidents. Using a historical case study orientation, I conducted document analysis on policy related to student crisis at Appalachian State University and Virginia Tech. The results from this analysis can serve as a guide for administrators at other universities who are designing institutional policies to prevent mental health crises.

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