Washington University in St. Louis
on campus: 314-935-5555 off campus emergency: 911

Police Services

Missing Student Notification

WashU 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.

Missing Student Procedures

  1. If a member of the university community suspects that a student may be missing, they should immediately notify WashU PD or Protective Services. In addition, missing person reports may be made to the following offices:
    • Dean of Students
    • Office of Student Involvement and Leadership
    • Office of Residential Life.Official missing student reports made to any of the above-referenced offices must be referred immediately to WUPD or Protective Services
  2. Upon receipt of a report that a student is missing, WashU PD or Protective Services 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 WashU PD or Protective Services 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 may threaten life or health; and/or
    • existence of a physical or mental disability.

If WashU PD or Protective Services determines that a student residing in on-campus housing has been missing for twenty-four (24) hours, WashU PD or Protective Services will initiate the emergency contact procedures outlined herein.

Notification Procedures

  1. Whenever WashU PD, Protective Services or 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. Whenever WashU PD or Protective Services 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 WashU PD or Protective Services from initiating these and other emergency notification procedures within 24 hours of any student’s disappearance if, in the judgment of WashU PD or Protective Services, the circumstances of the student’s disappearance warrant an earlier notification.