At many colleges, taking time off to care for a relative, or missing a few days of class to attend a funeral, can be difficult for students. They may encounter a professor who tells them, in so many words, to suck it up. They might have difficulty negotiating extensions for assignments and make-up dates for exams. Although most institutions have a bereavement policy for faculty and staff, few have one for students. Perhaps not for long, though. In recent years, several colleges have created grief-absence policies, which grant students excused absences in the event of family deaths or illnesses, and ensure that students can make up class credit later. A policy like this existing on a campus sends a message systemically that campus administrators understand that students have lives and face challenges that are real and can impact success. As some colleges have adopted grief absence policies, organizations that help grieving students have formed on campuses around the country. For a majority of grievers, they do not necessarily need a counselor, they do not necessarily need professional help. What they need is someone who they can relate to.