Higher Education Act Reauthorization with Higher Education Opportunity Act – 2008 Section 485(j) requires all institutions of Higher Education that participate in any Title IV program and provide on–campus housing to students to establish both a Missing Student Notification Policy and Official Notification procedure for handling missing persons that apply to missing students re-ports of student who reside on campus.  

Missing student policy is defined as any currently registered student of Austin College who has not been seen by friends, family members or associates for 24 hours, and whose whereabouts have been questioned and brought to the attention of a member of the College community.

• The College will initiate an investigation when notified that a student; who resides in a campus residence hall, is missing, with no reasonable explanation for his/her absence.
• The investigation will include gathering of all information including: discussions with friends and roommate, meal and card access use around campus, social networking sites if possible, contacting them by phone or text.
• In the event of a missing student residing on campus, the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee will notify the parents/family members regarding the situation.
• In the event the student does not reside in a College residence hall, the appropriate local police authorities will be notified by Campus Police and an investigation will be initiated.

Each fall new and continuing students will be provided with an opportunity to denote a confidential contact person.  If a student has not reached their 18th birthday at the time they are reported missing for 24 hours.  In such circumstances the student’s custodial parent or guardian will be notified by the College.