Missing Resident Student Notification Policy

Policy Description

In compliance with the Higher Education Re-authorization Act of 2008, the purpose of this policy is to provide the procedures for reporting, investigating and making emergency notifications regarding any resident student of Seton Hall University who is believed to be missing.

A student is presumed to be missing when his/her absence is inconsistent with his/her established patterns of behavior and the deviation cannot be readily explained.  Before presuming that a person is missing, reasonable measures should be taken to determine whether or not the person is at their off-campus place of residence and whether or not anyone familiar with the person has seen or heard from the person recently or is aware of where they may be.

Any member of the University community, including both employees and students, who is concerned that a member of the University community is missing should contact the Office of Public Safety & Security, (973) 761-9300, or the Office of the Dean of Students, (973) 761-9076, as soon as it is determined that the individual is missing as defined above.

In emergency situations the South Orange Police Department should be contacted immediately by dialing 911 or (973) 763-3000.

Emergency Contact:
Resident Students – A resident student is any student residing in a University operated residential facility under a University housing license agreement.  All resident students are required to designate an emergency contact person as part of the check in process to their residence hall.  If a student moves to another University residence facility the student is required to complete the same information upon check in to that hall.

Non-Resident Students – All enrolled students at the University, regardless of living circumstances, are requested to designate an emergency contact person through Banner Self Service.  

Every student (resident and non-resident) has their own student account and may enter or change, under personal information/address, a designated contact person at any time by updating their emergency contact information through Banner Self Service.

Only authorized campus officials, as part of their responsibilities and law enforcement officers in furtherance of a missing person investigation, may have access to this information.

Reporting and Investigating Missing Persons:
Any report of a missing student will be fully investigated by appropriate University personnel under the coordination of the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.  Further, the assistance of the South Orange Police Department, or other appropriate law enforcement agencies, will be sought if such assistance is indicated by the initial campus investigation.

Informing Designated Contact Person:
The Office of the Dean of Students is required by law to inform the designated contact person of a missing student – or the custodial parent or guardian in the case of a minor – within 24 hours of receiving a missing person report.

_{Adopted - 1/2010}