Missing Person Policy

MISSING PERSON POLICY

As required under federal law, if a member of the UTA community has reason to believe that a student who resides in on-campus housing is missing, he/she should immediately notify the University of Texas at Arlington Police Department (UTAPD) at 817-272-3381. UTAPD will generate a missing person report and initiate an investigation.  UTAPD will be the primary law enforcement agency in the investigation if a residential student has gone missing for more than 24 hours.

After investigating the missing person report, should UTAPD determine the on campus residential student is missing, UTAPD will notify the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the area and the student’s confidential contact no later than 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing, regardless if the student is above the age of 18 or is an emancipated minor. If the missing student is under the age of 18 and is not emancipated, UTA will notify the student’s parent or legal guardian and their confidential contact immediately after UTAPD has determined that the student has been missing for more than 24 hours.

In addition to registering an emergency contact, students residing in on-campus housing have the option to identify confidentially an individual to be contacted by UTA in the event the student is determined to be missing for more than 24 hours. Contact information will be accessible only to authorized campus officials and law enforcement and will not be disclosed outside of a missing person investigation. If a student has identified such an individual, UTA will notify that individual no later than 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing. 

Students residing on campus (Apartment and Residence Life, Greek housing, or Centennial Court) who wish to identify a confidential contact can do so through Housing Operations at 817-272-2791.

Additional FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974) information can be located at uta.edu/ferpa.