Missing Student Notification Policy Missing Person Procedures The Higher Education Opportunity Act( HEOA) requires Title IV eligible institutions that provide on-campus housing to establish a missing student notification policy for students who reside in on-campus housing.
• Gwynedd Mercy University will require each student who lives on campus to identify a contact person whom the institution may notify in the case that the student is determined missing, according to the institution’ s official notification procedures.
• Gwynedd Mercy University will advise each student who is under 18 years of age, and is not an emancipated individual, that if the student is determined missing, then the institution must notify a custodial parent or guardian within 24 hours.
• The missing person policy includes procedures for official notification that a student has been missing for more than 24 hours by the appropriate individuals at the institution;
• Gwynedd Mercy University will initiate the emergency contact procedures in accordance with the student’ s designation if the Public Safety or law enforcement entity has been notified and has determined that such student has been missing for more than 24 hours and has not returned to campus.
Reporting Missing Persons Gwynedd Mercy University thoroughly investigates all community members reported as missing whether they reside on or offcampus. To report a missing person dial 21111 from a campus telephone, use one of the blue light emergency telephones on campus, or dial 215-641-5522 from off-campus / cell phones. You may report a missing person in person to the Department of Public Safety located in St. Brigid Hall or to the Lower Gwynedd Police Department at 215-646-5300.
If the Missing Person is a student, Public Safety will follow these procedures:
• A Gwynedd Mercy Public Safety Officer, upon confirmation that a student is missing and cannot be located, shall notify the Office of the Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Students.
• If the missing student resides in on-campus housing, the Gwynedd Mercy Public Safety Officer will notify the Residence Life Director or staff member on duty. Public Safety and Residence Life will contact neighbors and friends in the immediate vicinity of the student’ s room and report any findings to the Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Students.
• If the missing student residing on-campus has been missing for more than 24 hours, the Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Students or designee will notify the student’ s designated emergency contact.
• If the student is under 18 years old, the Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Students or designee will immediately notify a custodial parent or legal guardian; and the missing student will be entered into the National Crime Information Center by the Lower Gwynedd Police Department.
• If a student over 18 years old has not designated an emergency contact, the law enforcement agency where the student’ s primary residence is located will be notified. All notifications as mentioned in this section will be made by the Director of Public Safety or designee.
• If the missing person is a commuter student, faculty or staff the University will assist the investigating jurisdiction upon request.
• If the student has not been located within a reasonable amount of time, the Office of the Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Students may contact the student’ s parents or others for additional assistance.
Posting Policy In an effort to“ go green” and to increase the consistency of on-campus promotions, Gwynedd Mercy University does not permit the posting of flyers, posters or electronic messages on digital signage boards(“ electronic messages”) without prior approval in accordance with the procedures set forth below. Moreover, the University does not permit the posting of any approved flyer or poster on any glass surface on campus. All flyers / posters must be contained to bulletin boards only. Banners, large posters, and other items may be posted using alternative methods( e. g., with rope on a railing) with prior approval from the Office for Student Engagement.
A. Approval Procedures: All flyers, posters, and electronic messages must be approved in advance for posting by the Office for Student Engagement( 2 nd floor Waldron Center). All postings submitted for approval must have the following information:
• Name of the sponsoring party( club or organization, department, etc.)
• Contact name or number / email;
• All pertinent information regarding the activity( who, what, when, where).
After approval, postings will receive a stamp allowing items to be posted. Items without this stamp may be taken down. In addition to the above, the following factors will be considered in determining whether the posting will be approved:
• Posters, flyers, and electronic messages are subject to a standard of“ not socially offensive”( such as no personal attacks or obscenity);
• Posters, flyers, and electronic messages may not depict characterization of alcohol or other drugs or otherwise violate
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