The Higher Education Act (HEA) Title IV, Section 485(j), requires higher education institutions that provide any on-campus housing facility to establish a policy regarding missing student notification procedures for students who reside in on-campus student housing facilities. On-campus housing is clarified as “any student housing facility that is owned or controlled by the institution, or is located on property that is owned or controlled by the institution, and is within the reasonably contiguous
geographic area that makes up the campus”. This includes all Otterbein owned or controlled residence halls, theme houses, sororities and fraternities. As such Otterbein has established the following policy and procedure to address students residing on-campus that are reported as missing:
2) The “Campus Life Handbook” shall inform each student in accordance with HEA Title IV, section 485(J) that students who reside in on-campus housing have the option to identify an individual to be contacted by Otterbein within 24 hours after the student is determined missing for 24 hours. Additionally, Otterbein will notify the appropriate law enforcement agency within 24
hours, after a student residing in on-campus housing is determined missing (unless the
Westerville Police Department was the entity that made the determination that the student was missing). If the student is under 18-years old and not emancipated, Otterbein will notify a parent/guardian within 24 hours of determining that the student is missing, in addition to notifying any additional contact person designated by the student.
3) Otterbein shall provide each student residing in on-campus housing the means to register confidential contact information, to be utilized in the event the student is determined to be missing, by completing the “Otterbein Address Information Form/Missing Student notification Form” at least once per academic year or as often as needed to update a student’s emergency contact information Any confidential contact information provided for missing person
notification purposes will only be used for this purpose. When students are informed of their option to provide a confidential contact, they are advised that their contact information will be registered confidentially, and that this information will be accessible only to authorized campus officials and law enforcement and that it may not be disclosed outside of a missing person investigation
3) Otterbein shall initiate the “Missing Student Notification Procedures” if the Otterbein Police Department, or a law enforcement agency, determines through their investigation of a missing person report that an Otterbein student residing in on-campus housing has been missing and has not returned to campus.
Otterbein’s “Missing Student Notification Procedures” are as follows for students that reside in on- campus housing:
A) Any official missing student report made to Otterbein students, faculty or staff of a missing student who resides in on-campus housing is to be immediately referred to the Otterbein Police Department. If members of the Otterbein community believe that a student has been missing for 24 hours, it is critical that they report that information to OPD by calling 614-823-1222.
B) Upon investigation by Otterbein Police Department, if the student is determined to have been missing for 24 hours, the following notification procedures will be followed:
i) Otterbein personnel to be notified when an Otterbein student residing in on-campus housing has been determined as missing includes the Vice President for Student Affairs, Chief of Police, and Executive Director of Marketing and Communications
ii) If the missing student has provided Otterbein with an individual to contact if determined missing, Otterbein Police Department will notify this individual the student has been determined missing.
iii) If the student is under 18 years of age and not an emancipated individual, the Otterbein Police Department will immediately contact the student’s parent/legal guardian and any other designated contact person.
iv) Regardless if ii or iii apply, the Otterbein Police Department will notify the appropriate law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction in the area that the student has been missing within 24 hours.
154 Otterbein University’s Missing Student Police can be found on page 8 of the Campus Life Handbook at the link below:
http://ocweb.otterbein.edu/docs/default-source/files/campus-life/CampusLifeHandbook.pdf?sfvrsn=2
Residence Life personnel, may make an entry into the student’s room to check on their welfare. If the student is an off-campus resident, OPD will informally enlist the aid of the neighboring police agency having jurisdiction.
Concurrently, University officials will endeavor to determine the student’s whereabouts through contact with friends, associates, and/or employers of the student. Whether or not the student has been
attending classes, labs, recitals, and scheduled organizational or academic meetings, or appearing for scheduled work shifts, will be established. If located, verification of the student’s state of health and intention of returning to the campus will be made.
Notification of the local law enforcement and emergency contact will be made within 24 hours after it has been determined that the student has been missing for 24 hours. Notification of the emergency contact will be made by the Dean of Students or his/her designee. If the student is an off-campus resident, appropriate family members or associates are encouraged to make an official missing person report to the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction. Local law enforcement will be notified in all cases even if the student has not provided an emergency contact, and the university will provide the necessary information to assist in locating the missing student.
If the missing student is under the age of 18 and is not an emancipated individual, OPD will immediately notify the student's parent or legal guardian and any other designated missing person contact.
If circumstances related to a student’s disappearance appear to be foul play, (i.e., kidnapping or other criminal acts), then the appropriate notifications and actions will be initiated.
OPD will cooperate, aid, and assist the primary investigative agency in all ways prescribed by law. If the student is an on-campus resident, OPD will open an official investigation and retain status as the primary investigative unit. Upon closure of the missing person investigation, all parties previously contacted will be advised of the status of the case.