Missing Person Policy
Policy Scope
For purposes of this policy, a student is officially determined to be missing after an investigation by the College finds that the whereabouts and welfare of the student cannot be verified for a period of 24 hours.
Designating Emergency Contacts
During registration, Wheaton College will request that each new student voluntarily provide emergency contact information. In addition to designating an emergency contact, students residing in on-campus housing may confidentially identify a “missing person contact,” which is an individual to be contacted by Wheaton College if the student is officially determined to be missing.
Students who wish to designate or update a confidential contact may do so by notifying the Residence Life Office at residence.life@wheaton.edu. A student’s confidential contact designation will remain in effect until it is changed or revoked by the student during their enrollment at the College.
Confidentiality
Missing person contact information will be accessible only to authorized campus officials and will not be disclosed except to law enforcement personnel in furtherance of a missing person investigation.
Missing Person Procedures
- If a member of the College community has reason to believe that a student residing in on-campus housing is missing, they should immediately notify Wheaton College Public Safety (WCPS) at 630.752.5911.
- WCPS will generate an internal missing person report, contact a dean in Student Development, and the College will initiate a thorough investigation.
- If an investigation results in the determination that a student has been missing for 24 hours or longer, Wheaton College will immediately notify the appropriate designated emergency contact, or “missing person contact” as prescribed by the missing student, as well as local law enforcement, if they have not already been notified during the investigation.
- If the missing student is not emancipated (i.e. under the age of 18), Wheaton College will immediately notify the student’s parents or legal guardian in addition to notifying any additional contact person designated by the student.