Missing Student Notification Policy

As a requirement of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (amended) and in an effort to assist in ensuring the safety of our residential students, the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University has established a missing student notification policy that requires the University to alert an emergency contact designated by the student and/or the student’s parents, as well as local law enforcement, if the student has been missing for more than 24 hours.

All students are asked to provide the name and phone number of an emergency contact person with the information that is collected by the Registrar’s Office. This information is accessible to authorized campus officials who have the responsibility of notification and law enforcement officers, in furtherance of a missing person investigation. The following procedures apply to all notifications:

• If an individual becomes aware that a residential student has been missing for more than 24 hours, he or she should immediately report the situation to Campus Security at 410-234- 4600. A campus officer is available to respond to a call 24 hours a day and seven days per week. Campus Security will initiate contact with the associate dean for student affairs and the director of Campus Security and make the other necessary contacts to initiate action by Campus Security and other law enforcement officials,

• Campus officers will gather the details of the situation and inform the associate dean for student affairs so that the designated emergency contact can be notified as soon as possible.

• In the case that the missing student is under the age of 18 and not emancipated, his or her custodial parent(s) or guardian(s) must be notified within 24 hours of the determination that the student is missing. This notification is in addition to any additional contact person designated by the student.

• Local law enforcement will be notified in all cases even if the student has not provided an emergency contact, and the University will provide the necessary information to assist in locating the missing student.

• Individuals who are concerned about someone who has not been missing for 24 hours, but has failed to return to his/her residence are also encouraged to contact Campus Security.

If the circumstances related to a student’s disappearance appear to be related to foul play, (i.e., kidnapping or other criminal acts), then the appropriate notifications and actions should be initiated immediately, even if the student has been missing for less than 24 hours.