Missing Residential Student Policy and Procedure: Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Missing Residential Student Notification Policy and Procedure

At the beginning of each academic year, the KU Department of Student Housing will inform each student residing in on-campus housing that:

• the student has the option of identifying an individual to be contacted by the University no later than 24 hours after the time the student has been determined to be missing, in accordance with the notification procedure outlined below. Students may register this confidential contact information by completing and confirming their emergency contact information on their Department of Student Housing Registration Card. The contact information will be accessible only to authorized campus officials, and will not be disclosed, except to law enforcement personnel in furtherance of a missing person investigation.
• the University will notify KU Public Safety no later than 24 hours after University officials reasonably determine or believe there is justification to investigate the welfare or missing status of the student, in accordance with this Policy; and
• if the KU Public Safety Office has been notified and makes a determination that a student who is the subject of a missing person report is missing and has not returned to campus, the University will initiate the emergency contact procedures in accordance with the student’s designation.
• if the student is under 18 years of age and not emancipated, the University is required to notify a custodial parent or guardian (in addition to any additional contact person designated by the student) no later than 24 hours after the time that the student is determined to be missing;

The following official notification procedure will be followed for a missing student who resides in on-campus housing:

• Any report that a student has been missing for 24 hours, from whatever source, should be immediately directed to the KU Public Safety Office. A University official shall notify KU Public Safety no later than 24 hours after the University official reasonably determines or believes there is justification to investigate the welfare or missing status of the student.
• If the KU Public Safety Office, after investigating the report, determines the student has been missing for 24 hours, the KU Public Safety Office will contact the individual designated by the student, the custodial parent or legal guardian if the student is under 18 and not emancipated, or the appropriate law enforcement agency if these do not apply. KU Public Safety will notify the student’s contact person no later than 24 hours after making a determination that the student is missing.
• The KU Public Safety Office will also contact the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success Emergency Phone contact.
• In the event that a University official reasonably determines or believes that there is justification to investigate the welfare or missing status of a student, the University may use any of the following resources to assist in locating the student. These resources may be used in any order and combination.
  • Through the KU Department of Student Housing, authorized staff may be asked to assist in physically locating the student by entering the student’s assigned room and by talking with known associates.
  • The KU Public Safety Office and other University staff may search on-campus public locations to find the student (classrooms, library, cafeteria, etc.).
  • The KU Public Safety Office may issue an ID picture to assist in identifying the missing student.
  • University officials may try to contact known friends, family, or faculty members for last sighting or for additional contact information.
  • The Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success or academic departments may be contacted to seek information on last sighting or other contact information.
  • The KU Public Safety Office may access card access logs to determine last use of the card and track the card for future uses.
  • The KU Public Safety Office may access vehicle registration information for vehicle location and distribution to authorities.
  • Information Services may be asked to review email logs for last login and use of the University of Kansas email system.