Missing Student Notification Process

In accordance with Section 485 of the Higher Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1092(j) and 34 CFR 668.46(h)(1,2),
SWOSU has developed this investigation and notification policy regarding students who reside in campus
housing and have been reported as missing but may be implemented to aid other students on a case-by-
case basis.

Residents will be informed of the policy during the Residence Life & Housing mandatory meeting and in the
student housing handbook.
If a member of the SWOSU community has reason to believe that a student who lives in on-campus
housing is missing, they should notify the Director of Residence Life & Housing (580-774-3024) or SWOSU
Campus Police (580-774-3111). Once notified of the possibility of a missing resident, a wellness check will
be initiated.

Any person (student, staff, or faculty) believed to be missing from the campus should be immediately
reported to the SWOSU Campus Police.

Wellness Check:

A Housing Coordinator and a SWOSU Campus Police Officer, the Director or Assistant Director of
Residence Life & Housing will attempt to contact the resident. If the resident cannot be reached, two staff
will visit the resident’s room. The staff will identify themselves and knock on the door three times. If the
resident is located, the staff may deliver a message to the resident requesting they contact their parent,
guardian, family member, or individual who reported them missing. If the staff cannot contact the resident,
they will enter the residence by key. If they are still unable to locate the resident, they may contact known
friends, roommates, or the resident advisor (RA) assigned to the resident to see if they have heard from or
seen the student. If the staff is still unable to contact the resident, Campus Police will take the lead. The
Director of Residence Life & Housing or their designee will notify the Dean of Students about the missing
resident to check their campus SSO log-in for recent activity, meal plan use, and class schedules. The
Director of Residence Life & Housing or their designee will also ask the RAs on duty to knock on the
resident’s door every hour until contact with the student has been made by SWOSU staff or a missing
person’s report is filed.

Once the resident is located, the Director of Residence Life & Housing or Housing Coordinator will be
notified. Should SWOSU Campus Police be unable to locate the resident reported missing within 24 hours,
they will contact the resident’s designated emergency contact.
An emergency wellness situation exists if the resident poses immediate harm to either themselves or the
community. The Director of Residence Life & Housing, their designee or Campus Police will notify the
Dean of Students and the Director of Health & Well-being if an emergency occurs.

Emergency Contact:

Residents over 18 and emancipated minors will be given the opportunity during the Residence Life
mandatory meeting to designate an individual(s) to be contacted by the University in accordance with the
Missing Student Notification procedures. The person designated and their contact information shall be
considered confidential to the extent possible, will be kept separately from the general emergency contact,
and is only to be accessed by university officials after the resident has been reported missing. An
emergency contact designation will remain in effect until changed or revoked by the resident. A resident
can change or revoke their emergency contact at any time by email to the Residence Life office. If no
separate emergency contact is identified, a parent or guardian listed in the University records system will
be contacted.

For residents under 18 and not emancipated, the university must contact a custodial parent or guardian.
This requirement does not preclude implementing these procedures in less than 24 hours if circumstances
warrant a faster implementation.