Carnegie Mellon University

The Word

Student Handbook

Missing Student Protocol and Confidential Contact

In accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (20 U.S.C. § 1092(j)), Carnegie Mellon has adopted this Missing Student Notification Protocol. Each student has the option to register a Confidential Contact person who will be notified by Carnegie Mellon if the student is determined to be missing.

Confidential Contact information will be kept confidential and will only be accessible by authorized personnel in furtherance of a missing person investigation. Students who wish to register a Confidential Contact for notification through the missing student protocol may do so by logging into Student Information Online (SIO) on The HUB website and updating their “Manage Family & Friends” information under the “My Info” tab.

Missing Student Procedures

Any community member may contact the University Police or Office of the Dean of Student Affairs to report concern that a student may be missing. If the report did not originate through University Police, the information will be immediately conveyed to University Police to begin an investigation.

If the University Police investigation determines that the student is missing, the university will notify the student's Confidential Contact no later than 24 hours after the determination that the student is missing. If the missing student is under the age of 18 and not emancipated, the university will contact a custodial parent or guardian, in addition to the Confidential Contact. The university will also notify the appropriate local law enforcement agency within 24 hours of the determination that the student is missing.

In addition to notifying the Confidential Contact, the University is required to notify a custodial parent or guardian of the missing status of any student under the age of 18, and not emancipated.

Back to Community Policies