Missing Student Notification

Section: Student Services Index: D-11
Subject: Missing Student Notification 

Policy

The University of Houston-Victoria takes student safety very seriously. The University has established a policy and procedure designed to identify and assist UHV students who reside in on-campus housing and who have been reported missing for more than 24 hours. This policy ensures our compliance with The Higher Education Opportunity Act (P.L. 110-315) of 2008.

Scope

The UHV missing student policy covers residential students who have been determined to have been missing for 24 hours. Residential students are students enrolled at the University of Houston- Victoria who reside in university-owned housing.

Procedures

• Each semester the Residence Life Office by the close of business the first day of classes will provide Campus Security and Student Affairs Department with emergency notification information on every residential student.
• Within their housing application, residential students will provide the name and confidential contact information for an emergency contact. This information will remain in their portal profile and will be updated each semester.
• The Residence Life Office will require each residential student under the age of 18 (who is not emancipated) to register confidential contact information for a custodial parent or guardian to be contacted in the event that they are determined to be missing for more than 24 hours.
• Any university employee or an employee of any agencies contracted by the university is required to notify Campus Security by completing “Missing Student Notification Form” if the employee suspects a residential student is missing.
• If there is any indication of foul play, Campus Security will contact the local law enforcement immediately for assistance.
• Once Campus Security receives a missing student report via any source, the following individuals will be notified immediately:
  • UHV President
  • UHV Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs   
  • UHV Vice President of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management
  • UHV Director of Residence Life & University Commons
  • School Dean of the student’s major program
  • Victoria College Police Chief
  • Campus Security may use any or all of the following resources to assist in locating a student:
  • Through the Residence Life Office, the Director, the Assistant Director or Residence Hall Coordinator may be asked to access the student’s room and talk with roommates and other students residing in residential housing
  • Public locations at the university may be searched to find the student (i.e., library, cafeteria, classrooms, etc.)
  • A picture ID of the student on campus may be issued to assist in identifying the missing student
  • Student Affairs may try to contact known friends, family, or faculty members for additional information
  • Security may access card access logs to determine last use of the card and track future card use
  • Security may access vehicle registration information for vehicle location and distribution to authorities
  • IT may be asked to look up any student accounts (e.g., blackboard, email, PeopleSoft) for last login and use.
• If a student has been determined to be missing for 24 hours, the Director of Residence Life will notify the student’s emergency contact designated on the emergency contact form or the parent/guardian for students under the age of 18. If the student did not designate an emergency contact, Campus Security will notify local law enforcement.
• Official missing student reports will be referred immediately to Campus Security and local law enforcement.
• New employee and new student orientations will include information on employee and student responsibility to report any potential missing residential student.

This policy does not preclude implementing these procedures in less than 24 hours if circumstances warrant a faster implementation.

Signature Obtained               11/23/15
Raymond V. Morgan, Ph.D.      Date
Interim President

Next review date: November 2018
Origination: Student Affairs

Missing Student Notification Form

Before completing this form identifying a possible missing student, please consider whether or not you believe the student is a threat to themselves or others. If so contact Campus Security immediately and complete the form after you have contacted Security.

Name of Possible Missing Resident_________________________________________

Cell Phone Number of the Student if you have it_______________________________

How long do you think the student has been missing?___________________________

If you know, where was the student supposed to have been? (Visiting a friend, visiting family, attending class, traveling on a trip, etc.)

_____________________________________________________________________

When was the student supposed to have returned?_____________________________