MISSING STUDENT NOTIFICATION POLICY AND PROCEDURE
Policy:
Each student who lives in University Housing must designate a person to be contacted (“Housing Emergency Contact”) in the event the student is ever determined by the University to be missing from his/her on-campus residence. For students under the age of 18 and not emancipated, the university must notify a custodial parent or guardian within 24 hours of the determination that the student is missing, in addition to notifying any additional person designated as an emergency contact.
If a student who resides on campus is reported missing from his/her campus residence, University Housing will immediately notify the University Police Department. If the University Police Department determines that the student has been missing from his/her campus residence for 24 hours or more and has not returned to campus, then the University Police Department will notify the student’s Housing Emergency Contact as soon as possible, but in no event later than 24 hours after making this determination.
Procedures:
- Designating a Housing Emergency Contact:
On-campus student residents are required to designate a Housing Emergency Contact when checking in to University Housing. The Housing Emergency Contact information will be collected and maintained by University Housing on the student’s Resident Information Record. Prior to issuing housing keys to the student, a Housing employee will check to confirm that student has completed the primary Housing Emergency Contact section on their Resident Information Record. Emergency contact information provided will be registered confidentially and accessible only to authorized campus officials and will not be disclosed, except to law enforcement personnel in furtherance of a missing person investigation. - Missing Student Reports:
Reports to the University of students missing from University Housing should be brought to the attention of the Director of Housing, or his/her designee, as soon as possible. The Director of Housing, or his/her designee, is responsible for immediately notifying the University Police Department of the report, together with the involved student’s Housing Emergency Contact information. Following notice to the University Police Department, the Director of Housing, or his/her designee, is responsible for immediate notifying the Dean of Students, or his/her designee, of the report. - Determination by Law Enforcement:
If the University Police Department determines that a student has been missing from University Housing for 24 hours or more and has not returned to campus, then the University Police Department will contact the student’s Housing Emergency Contact as soon as possible, and in no event later than 24 hours following this determination.
Security
University Commons residents receive a key to their main apartment door and assigned bedroom, and an access card that opens the main entry points of the Commons (turnstiles on Piedmont Ave. NE, main lobby entrance, and elevator lobbies), and the other residence halls (and parking via hang tag if applicable). Use your apartment door peephole to see who is there before opening the door.
University Lofts residents receive a key to their main apartment door and assigned bedroom, and an access card that opens the main entry points of the Lofts (main lobby entrance on Edgewood Ave. NE, and rear entrance within the parking deck), and the other residence halls. Use your apartment door peephole to see who is there before opening the door. Keep your bedroom and apartment doors locked at all times and do not hold the entrance/exit gates or doors open for others.
Patton Hall residents receive a key to their assigned suite door and closet door, and an access card that opens the main entry points of Patton Hall (front lobby entrance on Edgewood Ave. NE, elevator access to your floor, and laundry room door), and the other residence halls.
Greek Housing residents receive a key to their assigned bedroom door, and an access card that opens the main entry points of Greek Housing (turnstiles, townhome door, and Community Center), and the other residence halls.
Piedmont North A and B residents receive an electronic key to their assigned suite, and an access card that opens the main entry points of Piedmont North (front lobby entrances of Piedmont North A and Piedmont North B, turnstiles at Piedmont North A, elevator access to your floor), and the other residence halls (and parking via hang tag if applicable).
Piedmont Central residents receive a key to their assigned bedroom door and an access card that opens the suite door and the main entry points of the building (front entrances, turnstiles and elevator access) and other residence halls (and parking via hang tag if applicable).
A resident using an exit door MAY NOT prop the door. Propped doors allow unauthorized people to enter the residence hall or complex and breach the safety of each resident and their property. Report all suspicious persons or activities to the Georgia State University Police at (404) 413-3333
TIP: Placing any object in an exit door frame or using any object to jam the locking mechanism puts your whole community at risk for unauthorized entry and possible harm to others. Do not leave an exit door ajar.