Missing Resident Student Notification Policy & Procedure

The University of New Mexico takes student safety very seriously. To this end, and in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, the purpose of this policy is to provide procedures for reporting, investigating and making emergency noti­fications regarding any residential student of UNM who, based on the facts and circumstances known to UNM, has been determined to be missing.

For purposes of this policy, a residential student of UNM is a student who is currently enrolled and resides in on-campus housing or in pri­vately owned Greek housing on campus.

Student Contact Information

Residential students have the opportunity to identify an individual who will be contacted by UNM not later than 24 hours after the time that the student is deter­mined to be missing. The contact person may be a parent, legal guardian or other person of the student’s choosing. If the student is under 18 years of age and is not emancipated, UNM must also notify a par­ent or legal guardian not later than 24 hours after the time that the student is determined to be miss­ing. Student contact information is held confidential and is accessible only to authorized UNM officials and law enforcement involved in a missing person investigation. Students living in UNM residence halls can register their confidential contact informa­tion, or make any changes to previously registered information, through Residence Life and Student Housing (505) 277-2606. Students living in the ACC Properties (Casas del Rio 505-277-1619 and Lobo Village 505-925-5575) can register their confidential contact information, or make changes to previously registered information, through their respective residence hall front desk.  Students residing in Greek housing can register their confidential contact information through the Greek Life Office of UNM Student Activities Center (505) 277-4706. Students are responsible for ensuring that their contact information is up-to-date and accurate.

Missing Student Notification Procedures

UNM students, employees or other individuals who have reason to believe that a residential student is missing should immediately report their concerns to the UNM Police Department (505) 277-2241, within 24 hours of determination that a student is missing. If the Residence Life and Student Housing Office, Greek Life Office or other department receives a report of a missing student, UNM Police Department should be noti­fied immediately. The UNM Police Department will, as appropriate, engage staff from Residence Life and Student Housing and other UNM depart­ments in immediate efforts to locate the student. These efforts may include but are not limited to:

• Contacting the student via his or her telephone and/or email.

• Checking the student’s residence; deter­mining if the student has been in class or used his or her UNM ID card.

• Checking with roommates, friends and oth­ers who may have relevant information.

If these efforts are unsuccessful in locat­ing the student, UNM Police Department will inform the Dean of Students that the student is missing and the following will occur:

• The Dean of Students, or designee, will notify the student’s designated missing person con­tact within 24 hours of being informed by UNM Police Department that the student is missing.

• If the missing student is under the age of 18 and is not emancipated, the Dean of Students, or designee, will notify the student’s custodial parent or legal guardian within 24 hours of being informed by UNM Police Department that the student is missing.

• UNM Police Department will notify any other law enforcement agencies, within 24 hours, as appropriate, for purposes of coordinating the investigation and continuing efforts to locate the student.

• The Dean of Students will initiate actions deemed appropriate under the circumstances in the best interest of the missing student. For example, contacting the student’s instruc­tors may occur if necessary or beneficial in the situation to the student and/or instructors.

Notification of Policy

Students will receive notification of this Policy annu­ally through its inclusion in the University of New Mexico Annual Security Report and as part of the housing registration process for residential students.