Missing Student Policy

Custodian of Policy: Missing Student Policy

Effective Date: May 2016

Last Review: Fall 2022

Next Review: 2029

Policy

Minnesota State University Moorhead shall actively investigate any report of a missing student who is enrolled at the University. Any missing student reports must be referred immediately to the Department of Public Safety which has the responsibility to initiate an investigation. If, after investigation, the Department of Public Safety determines a student is missing or if a student has been determined to be missing for at least 24 hours, the following will be notified within 24 hours of making the determination:

1. local law enforcement agency unless the local law enforcement agency was the entity that made the determination that the student is missing;
2. custodial parent or guardian of a student who is under 18 years of age and not legally emancipated; and
3. individuals registered by the student in a confidential database of voluntarily-entered information.

Definitions

Missing Student: A student may be considered to be missing if the student’s absence is contrary to their usual pattern of behavior and/or unusual circumstances may have caused the absence.

Rationale

Minnesota State University Moorhead is responsible for creating a missing student policy and associated procedures per the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. The Department of Public Safety has the responsibility for creating the standard operating procedure for the investigation of any report of a missing student.