Missing Student Standard Operating Procedure

Purpose

This procedure ensures the College is in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity (HEO) Act of 2008. Per the HEO Act, the procedure only applies to students who reside in on-campus housing on the Fergus Falls campus and who are determined to be missing for a minimum of 24 hours.

Definitions

Missing student

Missing Student

A residential student who has been missing for a minimum of 24 hours. A student may be considered missing if the student’s absence is contrary to their usual pattern of behavior.

Residential Student

A student who resides in on-campus housing on the Fergus Falls campus.

Procedure

It is the policy of the College’s Fergus Falls campus to actively investigate any report of a missing student who is enrolled at the College.

1. College employees, students or student guardians/families should immediately report missing students to one of the following:
   • Submit a Missing Person Report online
   • Fergus Falls Police Department, 218.998.8555
   • Housing and Enrollment Coordinator, 218.736.1549, housing@minnesota.edu
   • Campus Security, 218.770.9861
2. Immediately upon receiving a Missing Person Report, or after a College employee has been notified that a residential student has been missing for 24 hours, the dean of students or the vice president of human resources, or designee, will inform the Fergus Falls Police Department and the vice president of student affairs. Notification will be made regardless of the student's age, status or whether they have identified a missing person emergency contact.
3. If applicable, the housing and enrollment coordinator, or designee, will notify the missing student’s emergency contact, custodial parent or legal guardian within 24 hours after receiving the report or determining the student is missing based on information located in the College’s housing software system.
   1. If a student residing in on-campus housing identified a missing person contact when completing the housing application or by contacting the campus life and housing office at housing@minnesota.edu, the missing person contact will be notified within 24 hours after receiving the report or determining that the student is missing. Contact information will be registered confidentially and will only be accessible by authorized College officials. If accessed, the information will not be disclosed, except to law enforcement personnel as a part of a missing person investigation. Notice to all other parties will be in compliance with applicable FERPA regulations.
   2. If the missing student is under 18 years of age and is not emancipated, the housing and enrollment coordinator, or designee, will notify the student’s custodial parent or legal guardian, as well as any designated missing person emergency contact person, within 24 hours after receiving the report or determining that the student is missing.

Responsibility

Dean of Students, Vice President of Student Affairs, and Vice President of Human Resources

• Receive and review the Missing Person Report via Maxient and report it to local law enforcement immediately if the student has been missing for 24 hours. 

Housing and Enrollment Coordinator, or Designee

• Notify the missing person’s emergency contact, custodial parent or legal guardian when applicable.

Supporting References

Minnesota State Community and Technical College Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

U.S. Department of Education Higher Education Opportunity (HEO) Act of 2008