In compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act’s Missing Student Notification Policy and Procedures, it is the policy of the dean of students’ office to actively investigate any report of a missing student who is enrolled at the university and living in campus housing. For purposes of this policy, 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 if unusual circumstances may have caused this absence. Such circumstances could include, but are not limited to, a report of suspicion that the missing person may be the victim of foul play, has expressed suicidal thoughts, is drug dependent, is in a life-threatening situation, or has been with persons who may endanger the student’s welfare.
Each student has the option through their Voyager account to identify an individual to be contacted by Lawrence University in the event that the student is reported missing.
If a member of the university community has reason to believe that a student is missing, security should be notified. Upon receiving notification, security, residence hall staff and staff in the dean of students’ office will make reasonable efforts to locate the student to determine his/her health and well-being. These efforts may include, but are not limited to, checking the student’s room, class attendance, ID card usage, locating the student’s vehicle, talking with friends, and calling the student’s reported cell phone number. As part of the investigation, the university reserves the right to contact the student’s emergency contacts to help determine the whereabouts of the student.
If upon investigation, it is determined that the student has been missing for at least 24 hours, student affairs staff will notify the designated missing student contact and appropriate law enforcement. College officials will work in collaboration with law enforcement officers to resolve the situation.
This information is found on page 57 of the 2012-13 Lawrence Student Handbook.
