Missing Student/Confidential Contact Notification

Any individual who has reason to believe that a TCU student is missing (from campus or while away on a trip), they should immediately notify the TCU Police Department at 817-257-7777. In the event any University employee receives information regarding a missing student, the employee should immediately report the information to the TCU Police Department. The TCU Police Department will general a missing person report and initiate an investigation.

In accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, Texas Christian University has a procedure to investigate when a student is reported missing. The regulations recognize that for some students, contacting existing emergency contacts, parents, or both may be problematic. Therefore, students have the option to designate a Missing Student/Confidential Contact by completing and submitting this form electronically. This contact is separate from their normal emergency contact person.  While these contacts can be designated as the same individual, the Missing Student/Confidential Contact information will only be accessed by the TCU Police Department. In some instances the TCU Police Department may, however, need to provide access to other University offices (e.g., offices of the Dean of Student’s Office and Housing and Residence Life), to assist in an investigation.

No later than 24 hours after the TCU Police Department determines that a TCU student is missing, TCU Police will notify the designated Missing Student/Confidential Contact as part of their investigation procedures. If no Missing Student/Confidential Contact information is designated, TCU Police will utilize existing Emergency Contact and/or parent/legal guardian contact information.

If you under 18 years of age and not emancipated, your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) will be notified within 24 hours that you are deemed missing, even if they are not designated as the Missing Student/Confidential Contact(s) designated on this form. The University reserves the right to notify additional individuals, including the parent or guardian of students 18 years of age or over, if a student is determined to be missing.

Procedures for Missing Student Notification

Upon notification of a possible missing student, the TCU Police Department will implement some or all of the following investigative procedures in an effort to make a determination if the student is missing:

  • Speak with the reporting party to gather as much detail as possible, including all essential information about the student.
  • Attempt to call and text the alleged missing person using the phone numbers supplied to TCU.
  • Send an email to the TCU email address assigned to the alleged missing student.
  • Contact Dean of Student’s Office to determine if they have information about the missing student (in the hospital or return home, etc.)
  • Ask Dean of Student’s Office to contact faculty to determine last time the person was in class and ask the faculty member to refer the student to Dean of Student’s Office if the alleged missing student shows up in class.
  • Contact housing staff members to determine if the missing person has been seen.  Have the housing staff members check the assigned room
  • Contact neighbors, friends, acquaintances, and roommates to determine when the missing person was last seen.
  • Check the card access system log to determine when the missing person last used their TCU ID to access buildings or dining services.
  • Call local hospitals to check admission.
  • Monitor local jail records for possible arrests.
  • Use available video footage to review specific locations and times.

No later than 24 hours after the TCU Police Department determines that a TCU student is missing, the TCU Police Department will:

  • Notify the Fort Worth Police Department, unless the Fort Worth Police Department was the entity that made the determination the student is missing. Other appropriate law enforcement agencies may be contacted if the student resides outside of Fort Worth or if the student was on a trip away from campus.
  • Notify the student’s designated missing student/confidential contact
  • If the student is under 18 years of age and not emancipated, the student’s custodial parent or legal guardian will be contacted. The University reserves the right to notify additional individuals, including the parent or guardian of students 18 years of age or over, if a student is determined to be missing.
  • Continue to attempt contacting the missing student (in cooperation with the investigation of the outside police agency.)
  • Continue to monitor residential location.
  • Continue to monitor University ID card usage.
  • Continue to engage faculty about class attendance.