Appendix II: Missing Student Policy

This policy establishes notification procedures for University students who reside in on-campus housing and are reported as missing for more than 24 hours.

Any person who has reason to believe that a student residing in on-campus housing has been missing for more than 24 hours should immediately contact the University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD) at 773.702.8181 to make a missing student report.

Upon registration, all students are asked to provide the Office of the Registrar with the name and contact information of a person to be contacted in the event of a personal emergency. At that time, students also are informed that, if they reside in on-campus housing: (a) they also may identify an individual the University will contact if the student has been reported missing for more than 24 hours; (b) the Office of the Registrar will maintain the contact information of all individuals the student designates in a database; and (c) if UCPD receives a missing student report and determines that the student has been missing for more than 24 hours, the University will initiate the following notification process.

When UCPD receives a report of a missing University student, it will promptly contact the Dean-on-Call, who will contact, as appropriate, the director of the University House System, the cognizant dean of students, and/or the director of the International House, or their designees. No later than 24 hours after determining that a student is missing under this policy, UCPD will contact the Dean-on-Call and ask him or her to work with the missing student's dean of students (or his/her designee) to contact the student's emergency contact as designated in the missing person contact database.

If the missing student did not provide missing person contact information or the missing person contact cannot be reached the University will contact the person(s) the missing student designated as a point of contact for personal emergencies. If the missing University student is under age 18 and not emancipated, the dean of students (or his/her designee) also will promptly contact the student's custodial parent(s) or legal guardian(s).

UCPD will actively investigate the missing student report, as appropriate with the Chicago Police Department, and pursuant to applicable policies and procedures.

Notes

  1. "On-campus housing" consists of International House and all University residence halls, including New Graduate Residence Hall.
  2. A student is deemed "missing" if the student's absence is contrary to his/her usual pattern of behavior and unusual circumstances may have caused the absence, e.g., a report or suspicion that the student may be the victim of foul play, has expressed suicidal thoughts, is drug or alcohol dependent, is in a life-threatening situation, or has been with persons who may endanger the student's welfare.
  3. In responding to a missing student report, the University may, among other things: (i) talk with the student's friends and acquaintances; (ii) ask Housing personnel to assist in physically locating the student by entering his/her assigned room; (iii) issue a Chicago Card (or other) photograph to assist in identifying and locating the missing student; (iv) contact academic departments, faculty, peers, and/or family regarding last sighting or additional information; and (v) review access card/computer logs to determine last use of the card/technology resources, vending cards, food purchases, etc., and otherwise track use.
  4. Only UCPD and University officials involved in a missing student investigation and/or the notification process may access missing person contact information.