IU's policy is to thoroughly investigate all reports of missing persons it receives, and to ensure that all missing person notifications to law enforcement and others are made promptly and in accordance with applicable state and federal law. However, IU has specific obligations with respect to students residing in on-campus student housing.
Reports of missing persons
Missing students who live in on-campus housing
If a student who lives in on-campus housing is believed to be missing, students or other individuals should immediately report this to IUPD; however, IU employees are required to immediately report this to the IUPD. A report should be made by contacting the appropriate campus IUPD office by phone or by filing a report in-person.
IUPD will obtain a report and initiate an investigation, regardless of who makes the report. If IUPD determines that a student has been missing for 24 hours or more, we will notify local law enforcement and inform the student’s designated contact person(s) no more than 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing.
If circumstances warrant, IUPD may determine that a student is missing and initiate these procedures before the student has been missing for the full 24-hour time frame.
Designating an emergency contact
Any student residing in on-campus housing should identify both an emergency contact and a contact who will be notified should the student be determined missing by IUPD. This information should be updated regularly. If the missing student is under the age of 18 and is not emancipated, IUPD will notify the student’s parent or legal guardian, in addition to the student’s designated contact.
How the information is used
Contact information will be registered confidentially for all students, will be accessible only to authorized campus officials, and will not be disclosed except to law enforcement personnel in order to assist with a missing person investigation.
Information about the missing person will be entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) within two hours of being received by police. This information will also be sent to any police department near the location where the missing student was last seen (the local law enforcement agency) and to any law enforcement agency requested by the reporting party, provided IUPD considers the request to be reasonable.
Provide your emergency contact information to IU housing
IU Bloomington
Bloomington students in on-campus housing should visit the Residential and Programs Services website.
Bloomington students living in houses rented from IU Real Estate should call 812-855- 3054 or email rlestate@indiana.edu to request a Missing Student Contact Information form.
IU Indianapolis
IU Indianapolis students should visit the Housing and Residence Life website, log into Housing Service Center, and click “Manage My Contacts.”
IU Fort Wayne
IU Fort Wayne students should contact the Purdue University Fort Wayne Police Department.
IU Southeast
IU Southeast students should contact the Office of Residence Life by calling 812-941-2115 or make a report in person at the Meadow Lodge in Room 103.
IU South Bend
IU South Bend students should contact the Office of Housing and Residence Life by calling 574-520-5805, emailing living@iusb.edu, or by visiting in person at the River Crossing Community Center.