Missing Student Policy

Any report that is made about a resident missing from on-campus housing, including but not limited to reports made by Housing & Residence Life Department staff, are required to be immediately referred to the University Police Department. All reports regarding missing students living in on-campus housing would be deemed official reports and there is no specific timeframe within which a person must be missing in order to be considered a missing resident report. A report does not have to only come from on-campus housing representatives in order to be considered an official report. If any member of the university community has reason to believe that a student who resides in on-campus housing is missing they should immediately notify the University Police Department in-person or by calling 408 924-2222. 

Pursuant to California Penal Code § 14211 and as a matter of department policy the UPD will not require a minimum time frame to pass before initiating a missing person investigation. During the investigation a report will be generated and investigators will conduct specific notification procedures to designated contacts and local law enforcement agencies in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. For all reports that fall under this policy, UPD will notify a custodial parent or guardian and the designated confidential contact(s), if any, without delay. This also applies when the student is under 18 years of age and not an emancipated minor. The institution will notify the local law enforcement agency without delay. 

In addition to and separate from the registering of an emergency contact, students residing in on-campus housing have the option to identify a confidential contact to be notified by the University in the event the student is determined to be missing. Students who wish to identify a confidential contact may do so when completing the Housing application and at any time online through the Housing Portal. Only authorized university officials and law enforcement personnel in furtherance of a missing person investigation may have access to this information.