Locating a Missing Student
UND will actively investigate any report of a missing student and take appropriate action to ensure all notifications and actions comply with legal mandates.
Investigation of such reports will be initiated immediately by the University Police Department (UPD) and local law enforcement. Procedures are governed by federal and state laws, and local ordinances, as well as internal standard operating practices.
All students are encouraged to provide emergency contact information in the Campus Connection system.
During the check-in process, campus apartment students and residence hall students are presented with emergency cards for the purpose of providing emergency contact and other information. Information provided is stored separately from general UND records. This information is accessed only in emergency situations involving the student, or as requested by the student. Information is subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and is protected from unauthorized disclosure. For a person under the age of 18 (who is not emancipated), and for the purposes of missing student notification, the person(s) to be contacted must be a custodial parent or guardian.
Report a Missing Student to Campus
Any concerned person may notify a Campus Security Authority (CSA) of a belief that a student is missing. CSAs include staff members/Office such as, Community Standards & Care Network Office, Resident Advisor, Community Assistant, Residence Hall Director, Residence Life Coordinator, Assistant Residence Hall Director, Resident Manager, or Resident Apartment Manager.
Call a CSA at UND
- Housing & Residence Life Office | 701.777.4251
- University Police Department | 701.777.3491
- Community Standards & Care Network Office | 701.777.2664
A student enrolled at UND at either a full- or part-time status, whom is perceived by the reporting person to be overdue in reaching home, campus, or another specific location, and there is an identifiable concern for the well-being of the student, may be reported as a missing student. Any UND employee receiving a complaint of a missing student would notify a CSA, and provide further information related to the reported missing student. A CSA may determine whether the student is a missing student. The Grand Forks Police Department will also be notified by UPD within 24 hours of the report of the missing student.
In situations where the student has failed to designate an emergency contact; UPD will continue to investigate utilizing established police investigative procedures, to include UND resources and records.
Contacting Family Members
Family members are typically contacted by UPD (or when delegated, Housing or Community Standards & Care Network Office) to resolve reports of missing students. It is the responsibility of staff to investigate and share appropriate information.
Methods of Contacting a Reported Missing Student
CSAs may work in cooperation by sharing records and information as appropriate to assess the status of a student reported as missing. Methods of attempting to locate a reported missing student include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Checking phone numbers and email addresses provided, as well as social networking sites.
- Surveying the student’s room or apartment; including contacting those with whom the student may live.
- Contacting friends, family members, known associates, faculty and other campus community members.
- Contacting extra jurisdictional law enforcement for assistance.
- Assessing student’s use of campus resources; such as ID card access or computer network systems.
Resolution of Missing Student Status
Emergency contacts will be advised of the resolution of a student’s missing status. The emergency contacts will further be advised of law enforcement options in cases where the student is not contacted through measures in this protocol. Emergency contact notification will be made by a CSA in Housing, Community Standards & Care Network Office, or UPD.