Missing Student Notification

If a student is reported to have been missing for more than 24 hours, the university will notify the proper authorities within 24 hours of the determination that the student is missing, including:

• For students under the age of 18 and not emancipated: University Police, who will in turn contact the City of Platteville Police Department, Grant County Sheriff's Office, confidential contact (if provided by student), and the parent/guardian.
• For students who are over the age of 18: University Police, who will in turn contact the City of Platteville Police Department, Grant County Sheriff's Office, and the emergency contact, or confidential contact (if provided by student).

Students are highly encouraged to complete the emergency contact information in their PASS account. In addition, students are encouraged to provide a confidential contact on the Residence Life Personal Data Form, in the event they were to go missing. Students have the ability to add, update, and change both of these contacts. For the emergency contact, students can access their PASS accounts.  For the confidential contact, students can request their Personal Data form from the Resident Assistant or Resident Director. This information is private and will be accessible to authorized campus officials (Residence Life staff, Dean of Students Office staff, and the Office of the Registrar staff) and only be disclosed to law enforcement personnel in furtherance of the missing person’s investigation.

Any time anyone believes that a student is a threat to themselves or others; they should contact University Police immediately. If they want to report that a student is missing they can either contact University Police directly (608.342.1584) or they can print/complete a Missing Student Notification form. Anyone can complete this form any time they believe a student has been missing for an unusual amount of time. Residence hall students completing this form should submit it to their resident director or the Department of Residence Life (located in Royce Hall, 608.342.1845) who will then contact University Police and the Director of Student Life and Development, immediately. For the rest of the campus community and those not living in Platteville, contact University Police at (608.342.1584) or submit the above form to the University Police Department located at 135 Brigham Hall, 1 University Plaza, Platteville WI 53818.

Missing Student Notification Procedure

If any university official, including Resident Assistants, is approached by anyone regarding a student missing, for a minimum of twenty-four hours, that official should help them determine if a Missing Student Notification form should be completed.

Here are some questions that may be of assistance:

• Do they believe the student is a threat to themselves or others?
• Has the student been missing for a minimum of 24 hours?
• Have you contacted the location/place they had most recently been
• Have you tried to contact them through various means? e.g. cell phone, text, email, Facebook, etc.?
• Have you contacted other friends or relatives who may know where they are?

Upon receiving a missing student form, University Officials should contact University Police immediately and their resident director, if living in the residence halls, immediately as well.  The University Police will determine if a student is “deemed missing” and within twenty- four hours follow appropriate procedures, including contacting either the parent/guardian, or the emergency contact provided by the student, as defined above.

University Police Actions: