UT Dallas > Police Department > Public Information > Safety and Security Policies > Missing Person Policy

Missing Person Policy

The purpose of this policy is to establish procedures for the University’s response to reports of missing students as required by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008.

This policy applies to students who reside in on-campus housing. For purposes of this policy, a student may be considered a “missing person” when he or she is absent from the University for more than 24 hours without any known reason. Students may also be deemed missing when their absence is contrary to their usual pattern of behavior and/or unusual circumstances may have caused the absence. Such circumstances could include, but not be limited to, a report or suspicion that the missing person may be the victim of foul play, has expressed suicidal thoughts, is drug dependent, or has been with persons who may endanger the student’s welfare.

All residential students will have the opportunity to designate a confidential contact to be notified by the University no more than 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing. Instructions will be provided on how to register that person’s contact information. All reports of missing students shall be directed to the UT Dallas Police Department, which shall investigate each report and make a determination about whether the student is missing.

NOTE: If a missing student is under the age of 18 and not emancipated, the University will contact the designated confidential contact, but is also required to contact the legal guardian or parent.

Procedures for designation of emergency contact information

Residential students will be given the opportunity to designate an individual or individuals to be contacted by the University no more than 24 hours after the time that the student is determined to be missing. Student notification of this policy and contact designation procedures will be:

  • Included on the UT Dallas residential life/housing web site.
  • Discussed during new student orientations and mandatory housing meetings at the beginning of each semester.
  • Sent to students via University e-mail each semester.