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Missing Student Policy

Missing Student Policy/Investigation

This online policy content is provided as a resource for the students, faculty, staff, and administration of Dickinson College. Content is subject to change. Please contact the appropriate person or office to obtain the most current information.  

If a member of the college community has reason to believe a student is missing, they should immediately notify Dickinson Public Safety (DPS) at 717-245-1111, whether or not the student resides on campus. DPS will generate a missing person report and initiate an investigation. DPS will notify the Student Life On-Call (SLOC), the Chief of DPS and other appropriate personnel to initiate actions to locate the student. All possible efforts will be made to locate the student to determine their state of health and well-being. If the student is an on campus resident, DPS, working Residence Life personnel and the SLOC, may make an entry into the student's room to check on their welfare. If the student is an off-campus resident, DPS will enlist the aid of the police agency having jurisdiction.

Concurrently, college officials will endeavor to determine the student's whereabouts through contact with friends, associates, and/or employers of the student. Whether or not the student has been attending classes, scheduled academic or organizational meetings, or appearing for scheduled work shifts, will be established. If located, verification of the student's state of health and intention of returning to the campus will be made.

In addition to registering a general emergency contact, students residing in on-campus housing have the option to identify confidentially an individual to be contacted by the college in the even the student is determined to be missing. If a student has identified such an individual, the college will notify that person no later than 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing. A student who wishes to identify a confidential contact may do that through the housing registration process. A student's confidential contact information will be accessible only by authorized campus officials and police in the course of the investigation.

After investigating a missing person report, should DPS determine that the student has been missing for 24 hours, DPS will notify Carlisle Police (or other law enforcement agency with jurisdiction) and the student's emergency contact no later than 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing. The notification of the emergency contact will be made by SLOC or the Dean of Students. If the missing student is under the age of 18 and is not an emancipated individual, the SLOC or the Dean of Students will notify the student's parent or legal guardian immediately after DPS has determined the student has been missing for 24 hours.

If the circumstances related to a student's disappearance appear to be related to foul play, i.e. kidnapping or other criminal acts, then the appropriate notifications and actions will be initiated immediately.