Missing Student Notification Policy and Procedure

Piedmont University is committed to ensuring the safety of the members of our University community. In keeping with that goal, and in accordance with the Higher Education Act of 2008, 20 U.S.C. § 1092(j), the University has established the following Missing Student Notification Policy and Procedure.

Registration of Confidential Contact Information

1. Students residing in on-campus housing have the option to register a confidential contact person who will be notified in accordance with this policy if the Campus Police Department or local law enforcement determines that the student is missing.
2. The confidential contact may be someone other than the emergency contact listed with the Office of Student Life. The student may register more than one confidential contact.
3. Only authorized campus officials and law enforcement officers pursuing the missing person investigation will have access to this information.
4. A student may register such confidential contact information at any time by filing a Confidential Contact Form with the Office of Student Life or Campus Police.
5. Any student who files a Confidential Contact Form is solely responsible for the accuracy of the contact information and for updating information, as necessary, by filing a new Confidential Contact Form with the Office of Student Affairs.

Missing Student Procedures

1. If a member of the Piedmont University community suspects that a student may be missing, they should immediately notify the Campus Police Department at 706-939-1349 or, in the absence of Campus Police, notify the local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction in the area. In addition, missing person reports may be made to the following offices for immediate referral to Campus Police:
• Vice President of Student Life and Leadership;
• Director of Residential Living;
• Director of Student Life and Leadership.
2. Upon receipt of a report that a student is missing, the Piedmont University Campus Police Department will gather information to complete a Missing Persons Report Form, including but not limited to:
• Name, location, and contact information of the person who reported the student missing;
• Name, vital information, and a detailed description of the student reported as missing;
• The circumstances in which the student was last seen or heard from;
• List of known associates, addresses and contact information;
• Name/addresses of persons present at the scene.
3. Additional information that the Piedmont University Campus Police department will consider in determining whether a student is missing includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• a student is out of contact for 24 hours after reasonable efforts to reach that student by phone calls, emails, and/or in-person attempts to establish contact;
• circumstances indicate that an act of criminality is involved;
• circumstances indicate that physical safety is in danger;
• existence of a medical condition that may threaten life or health; and/or a physical or mental disability.
4. If the Campus Police Department determines that a student residing in on-campus housing has been missing for twenty-four (24) hours, the Campus Police Department will initiate the notification procedures outlined in this policy.

Missing Person Notification Procedures

1. If the Campus Police Department and local law enforcement determines that any student residing in on-campus housing has been missing for 24 hours, the University will notify the following persons within 24 hours of that determination:
• The confidential contact, if one has been specified by the student;
• The parents or guardians of any student who is under the age of 18 and not an emancipated minor; and
• Local law enforcement (unless local law enforcement made the determination).
2. If the Campus Police Department determines that any student, whether residing on campus or not, has been missing for 24 hours, the University will notify local law enforcement.
3. Nothing in these policies and procedures shall prevent Piedmont University Campus Police from initiating these and other emergency notification procedures within 24 hours of any student’s disappearance if, in the judgment of the Campus Police, the circumstances of the student’s disappearance warrant an earlier notification.