Cottey College is a safe, education-oriented, and community-minded campus that maintains an academic and social environment conducive to the intellectual and personal development of students and promotes the safety and welfare of all members of the campus community. Cottey College is concerned for the safety and well-being of its students and employees. Cottey College will cooperate with authorities in the enforcement of all applicable laws.
Students who live on campus are urged to let their roommate and/or suitemates know of their whereabouts if they leave the campus. Students who live on campus who are believed to be missing for 24 hours should be reported to the vice president for student life and enrollment at ext. 2126 or 417-499-8310; the director of campus and residence life at ext. 2304 or 815-821-5535; or the P.E.O. Hall director at ext. 3050 or 417-448-9787; the Reeves Hall director at ext. 4050 or 417-448-4168; or the Robertson Hall head resident assistant at ext. 5050 or 417-684-5555; or to the manager of campus safety, security, and Clery, at ext. 2292 from any campus phone or ext. 2222 for campus security personnel or 417-448-1448 as soon as possible.
In accordance with Section 485 of the Higher Education Act (HEA), every institution of higher education that provides on-campus residence life must provide a missing student notification policy for those students residing in on-campus residence life. Every student who resides in on-campus residence life shall have the option to identify a confidential individual to be contacted by the College if the student is determined missing in accordance with the procedures outlined below. Students are advised that only authorized campus officials and law enforcement officers in furtherance of a missing person investigation may have access to this information.
At the beginning of each academic year, the manager of campus safety, security, and Clery will inform students residing in on-campus residence life that Cottey will notify an individual selected by the student not later than 24 hours after the time the student is determined to be missing. This information will include the following
- Students 18 years of age and older have the option of identifying an individual to be contacted by Cottey College not later than 24 hours after the time the student has been determined to be missing.
- Students can register or update this confidential contact information at the following link Student Emergency Contact.
- If the student is under 18 years of age and not an emancipated individual, Cottey College is required to notify a custodial parent or guardian and any other designated contact person not later than 24 hours after the time that the student is determined to be missing.
- Cottey College will notify the appropriate law enforcement agency no later than 24 hours after the time that the student is determined to be missing unless the local law enforcement agency was the entity that determined that the student is missing.
- If campus security personnel or law enforcement personnel have been notified and decide that a student, who is the subject of a missing person report, has been missing for more than 24 hours and has not returned to campus, Cottey College will initiate the emergency contact procedures in accordance with the student’s designation.
Cottey College will initiate the following notification procedure for a missing student who resides in on-campus residence life:
- Once Cottey College receives a missing student report via personnel from the Office of Student Life and Enrollment, Campus Security, Residence Life, or another source, the following office personnel will be notified: campus security; residence life; and student life.
- Any official missing person report relating to this student shall be referred immediately to campus security personnel.
- If campus security and student life personnel, after investigating the official report, determine the student has been missing for more than 24 hours, Cottey College will contact the individual identified by the student, the custodial parent or guardian if the student is under 18, and not emancipated, and regardless of whether the student has identified a contact person, is above the age of 18, or is an emancipated minor, inform the local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction in the area that the student is missing within 24 hours.
Upon notification from any entity that any student living on campus may be missing, Cottey College may use any of the following resources to assist in locating the student. These resources may be used in any order and combination.
- Through the director of campus and residence life, the hall director, and resident assistants may be asked to assist in physically locating the student by keying into the student’s assigned room, or another student’s room in which the student is believed to be, and by talking with known associates.
- Campus security or student life officials may key into the student’s assigned room or another student’s room in which the student is believed to be, as well as search other on-campus buildings and locations.
- Campus security personnel or student life officials may issue a picture ID to assist in identifying the missing student.
- Student life officials may try to contact known friends, family, or faculty members for the last sighting or additional contact information.
- Any faculty or staff may be contacted to seek information on the last sighting or other contact information.
- Campus security personnel may examine Comet Card access logs to determine the last use of the card and track the card for future use.
- Campus security personnel may access vehicle registration information for vehicle location and distribution to authorities.
- Information technology personnel may be asked to look up email logs for the last login and use of the Cottey College email system. They may also access the student’s personal computer for information about the student’s possible whereabouts or recent contacts.
- Campus security and student life officials may utilize other means to locate the missing student not otherwise specified herein.
- If there is any indication of foul play, the local police department will immediately be contacted for assistance.
If campus security officials determine that a student for whom a missing person report has been filed has been missing for 24 hours, then within the next 24 hours, they must notify the individual identified by the student to be contacted in this circumstance. If the student is under 18 years of age, they must notify a custodial parent or guardian and law enforcement.
This policy has been established to protect the integrity of the educational experience, encourage positive behavior, and enhance the community commitment of Cottey College students, faculty, and staff.