Index > Student Life Policies > Missing Student Policy

Missing Student Policy

In compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, RISD takes student safety seriously. To this end, the following policy and procedure has been established to assist in locating RISD students living in college owned on-campus housing who, based on the facts and circumstances known to RISD, are determined to be missing.

At the beginning of each academic year, RISD will inform students that:

  • Each RISD residential student, 18 years of age or older, has the option to identify an individual to be contacted by RISD not later than 24 hours after RISD has determined the student to be missing. Students may register this “confidential contact” information through the RISD!Alert Emergency Notification System.

    A confidential contact is a person designated by the student in addition to the emergency contact listed with the college on RISD!Alert. This contact information is registered confidentially, will be accessible only to authorized campus officials, and may not be disclosed, except to law enforcement personnel in furtherance of a missing person investigation. In cases where a confidential contact is not designated, or the confidential contact cannot be reached at the number provided by the student, the emergency contact, or other available contacts provided to the college will be used. The emergency contact may be notified in addition to any confidential contact provided.
  • If the student is under 18 years of age, and not an emancipated individual, RISD is required to notify a custodial parent or guardian not later than 24 hours after the time that the student is determined to be missing.
  • RISD will notify the appropriate law enforcement agency not later than 24 hours after the time that the student is determined to be missing, regardless of any other contacts that may be requested by the student or initiated by the institution.
  • If RISD Public Safety or law enforcement personnel make a determination that a student who is the subject of a missing person report has been missing for more than 24 hours and has not returned to campus, RISD will initiate the Missing Student Policy and Procedures in accordance with the student’s designation.

RISD will follow the following notification procedure for a missing student who resides in on-campus housing:

  • A missing student report may be made to the Public Safety Office or the Residence Life Office. Any official missing person report relating to this student shall be referred immediately to RISD Public Safety for investigation. Once a report is received, the following offices will be notified:
    • RISD Public Safety
    • Academic Affairs
    • Student Life
    • Residence Life
  • If RISD Public Safety, after investigating the official report, determines the student has been missing for more than 24 hours, RISD will contact the individual identified by the student, the custodial parent or legal guardian if the student is under 18 and not emancipated, and local law enforcement if these do not apply.

    Upon notification from any entity that any student may be missing, RISD may use any of the following resources, as well as any other means the college deems to be of value to assist in locating the student. These resources may be used in any order and combination.
  • Through the Residence Life Office, college staff may be asked to assist in physically locating the student by keying into the student’s assigned room and talking with known associates. Resident Assistants may be enlisted to gather information from neighboring students, friends, and roommates.
  • Public Safety may search on-campus public locations to find the student (library, dining areas, etc.).
  • Public Safety may issue an ID picture to assist in identifying the missing student.
  • Student Life may try to contact known friends, family or faculty members for last sighting or additional contact information.
  • Academic departments may be contacted to seek information on last sighting or other contact information.
  • Public Safety may access card access logs and/or video monitoring recordings to determine last use of the card and track the card for future uses.
  • Information Technology Services may be asked to look up email logs for last login and use of RISD email system.
  • If there is any indication of foul play, the local police department will immediately be contacted for assistance.