Missing Student Notification Policy

For purposes of this policy, a student may be considered to be a “missing person” if the person has been absent from the College for a period of 24 hours or longer without any known reason.  Additionally, a student may be considered to be a “missing person” if the person’s absence is contrary to his/her usual pattern of behavior and/or unusual circumstances may have caused the absence.  Such circumstances could include, but not limited to a 报告 or suspicion that the missing person may be the victim of foul play, has expressed suicidal thoughts, where there are concerns for drug and/or alcohol use, is in a life-threatening situation, or has been with persons who may endanger the student’s welfare.

All residential students will be given the opportunity to identify the name and 联系 number of the individual(s) who are a primary 联系 to be notified in the event that the resident is 报告ed missing.  In the event the student is under the age of 18 and is not emancipated, the College is required to have the primary emergency 联系 to be a custodial parent or guardian. Only authorized campus officials and law enforcement officers in furtherance of a missing person investigation may have access to this 联系 information.

If a member of the College community has reason to believe that a student is missing, 校园安全 should immediately be notified (616-632-2462).  校园安全 will collect and document the following information at the time of the 报告.

1. 的 Name (including 联系 information) and relationship of the person making the 报告.
2. 的 date, time and location that the missing student was last seen.
3. 的 missing student's cell phone number (if known by the 报告ing party).

Upon receipt of a missing student 报告, the College may use any or all of the following resources to located the student, including but not limited to:

1. Go to the student’s residence hall room.
2. Talk to the student’s RA, roommate (if applicable), and floormates to see if anyone can confirm the missing student’s whereabouts and/or confirm the date, time, and location the student was last seen.
3. Secure a current photo of the student through the student ID system and/or from friends.
4. Call and text the student’s cell phone and any other phone numbers on record.
5. Send the student an email.
6. Check all possible on-campus locations mentioned by the 报告ing party and friends including but not limited to:
   1. 图书馆
   2. 教室
   3. Campus employment locations
   4. Residence halls/lounges
   5. 公共区域
   6. 餐饮空间
   7. 健身中心
   8. Campus parking lots.
   9. Other locations on campus as noted in the 报告.
7. Contact or call other on-campus friends, or 联系s that are made known.  这包括 checking a student’s social networking site(s) such as 脸谱网, 推特, Instagram 等.

If all of the above attempts to locate or establish 联系 with the missing student are unsuccessful, the College will utilize the student’s emergency 联系s and notify them no later than 24 hours after the student has been determined to be missing.  的 College will also file a missing person’s 报告 with the Grand Rapids Police Department.

If the student is located and their status and well-being have been verified, the student will be instructed to 联系 the concerned party and designated emergency 联系.

When the missing student is determined to be a commuter student, the 报告ing person shall be advised to notify local law enforcement authorities.  的 College will assist external authorities with the investigation as requested.