Missing Student Notification Procedures | Safety Awareness Facts and Education | SIU

The following describes the formal notification procedures to be followed when a student residing in on-campus housing has been reported missing for more than 24 hours.

A report should be made with the SIU Department of Public Safety at 618/453-3771. Those living in on-campus housing who have reason to believe a student is missing may also contact a member of the Residence Life staff. If a report is generated with another law enforcement agency or other area of SIU campus regarding an on-campus resident, the SIU Department of Public Safety will immediately be notified and will generate a missing person report and initiate an investigation.

Students living on campus are asked to register an emergency contact with University Housing. Students also have the option to identify a confidential individual to be contacted by the university in the event the student is determined to be missing. A student may identify an individual to contact through the housing contract process. Only authorized campus officials and law enforcement officers in furtherance of a missing-person investigation may have access to the confidential contact information, and it may not be disclosed to others.

After investigating the missing-person report, should SIU police officers determine that the student is missing, the university will notify the student’s missing-person emergency contact no later than 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing. In addition to emergency contacts, the SIU Department of Public Safety will notify the Carbondale Police Department and other law enforcement agencies as appropriate for aid in locating the missing student.

If the missing student is under the age of 18 and is not an emancipated individual, SIU Department of Public Safety will notify the student’s parent or legal guardian immediately after it is determined that the student is missing. This policy does not preclude implementing these procedures in less than 24 hours if circumstances warrant a faster response.