Missing Student Protocol

Missing Person Reports

If a resident has been reported missing or is believed to have been missing for 24 hours or more, individuals should report this to Residence Life, or the University Police Department (UPD). UPD may be contacted 24 hours a day at 907-786-1120. Residence Life may be contacted at 907-751-7202 during business hours. During non-business hours, individuals may contact the Resident Advisor (RA) on duty:

  • MAC Apartments and North Hall: 907-529-9176
  • Templewood Townhomes and West Hall: 907-529-9178

Should a missing person report be filed on a resident’s behalf, Residence Life will gather information from the individual reporting the missing person, to include details about the reason for the report and any information that can be gathered about the missing student such as:

  • personal description
  • clothing last worn
  • locations where the resident may be
  • vehicle descriptions
  • information concerning the physical and mental well-being of the student
  • up-to-date photographs
  • class schedule
  • roommates, witnesses or other persons who may have more information

Residence Life staff may use any or all of the following actions to assist in locating the student: 

  • go to the student's room
  • enter the student's space with UPD
  • talk to the resident's roommates
  • secure a photo of the student
  • call or text the student's cell phone
  • call other phone numbers on record
  • send the student an email
  • check all possible campus locations where the student may be
  • check the student's vehicle

Along with notifying UPD and local law enforcement, Residence Life staff will notify the resident’s confidential missing person contact if provided, and, if the resident is less than18 years of age and not emancipated, the custodial parent or guardian of the resident. This notification will occur within 24 hours of determining that the student is missing.

Missing Persons Confidential Contact

A Check-in Form is required prior to initial move-in and at the beginning of each academic year, at which time residents may annually identify a missing-persons confidential contact to be notified within 24 hours if the student is determined to be missing. This missing-persons confidential contact information will only be used by authorized campus officials and law enforcement officers during a missing person investigation and will not be disclosed in any other instance.

Residents may make changes to their emergency contact and confidential contact information on their Housing Page on UAOnline or at the Residence Life Customer Service Desk in the Gorsuch Commons.

For all missing students, regardless of age, UAA will notify the local law enforcement agency within 24 hours of the determination that the student is missing, unless the local law enforcement agency was the entity that made the determination that the student was missing.

Residents Younger than 18

Residents who are younger than 18 must provide parental or custodial contact information at the time they apply for campus housing. They will have the opportunity to review and update this information when completing their online Check-in Form. UAA campus professionals will notify both the resident's custodial parents or guardian as well as their additional missing persons confidential contact, if provided, within 24 hours when a resident younger than 18 is determined to be missing.  

Missing Student Procedures

Should UPD investigate and determine that a residential student is missing, contact will then be made to the resident’s confidential contact, if that contact information has been provided, within 24 hours of the determination that the student is missing. If the student is under the age of 18 and is not an emancipated individual, UPD will notify the student’s parent or guardian or any other designated contact within 24 hours.


Regardless of whether the student has identified a contact an emergency or confidential contact, is above the age of 18, or is an emancipated minor, UAA will inform the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction that a student is missing within 24 hours.