Section 1000: Campus Policy

Effective: 
Revised: December 2022
Last Review: November 2022
Next Review: December 2024
Responsible Party: Dean of Students

MSU-Northern adheres to expectations established in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 and Montana state statute (§44-2-408, MCA) governing emergency contact designation and law enforcement response to missing persons reports, respectively. 

Reports of missing students should be made to the Havre Police Department (406-265-4361) or the Dean of Students Office (406-265-3704 or deanofstudents@msun.edu). Reports of missing students who reside in campus housing may also be made to the Residence Life Office (406-265-3539 or reslife@msun.edu). When a missing person is reported to the University directly, the University will immediately:

  1. determine credibility of the report, to the best of their ability; 
  2. if credible, the University will institute action to find the student and notify the Havre Police Department and specified University officials;
  3. if the student has designated a confidential contact for missing persons reports, the University will notify that contact.

The Havre Police Department, when notified of a missing person, will also adhere to Montana state statute (§44-2-408, MCA), which indicates: 

  1. All law enforcement authorities in the state shall accept, without delay, a report of a missing person unless there are extenuating circumstances, including: 
    1. the law enforcement authority knows the location of the person reported missing; 
    2. the law enforcement authority confirms the safe status of the person reported missing; 
    3. the law enforcement authority confirms that another law enforcement authority has or will accept a missing person report for the person; or 
    4. other circumstances documented by the law enforcement authority. 
  2. All missing person reports must be entered into the database of the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) of the United States Department of Justice within: 
    • 2 hours of receipt for persons under 21 years of age; or 
    • 8 hours of receipt for persons 21 years of age or older.
  3. If a missing person is not located within 30 days of being reported missing, the law enforcement authority that took the report shall ensure a complete and accurate record of information is compiled for the missing person, including a photograph if one is available.

Per the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, students may designate a confidential contact to be notified in the event the student is determined to be missing. The confidential contact is to be notified by MSU-Northern no later than 24 hours after the determination is made. The University will attempt to notify the confidential contact within two hours if the missing student is under 21 years of age and within eight hours if the missing student is over 21 years of age. This determination is made collaboratively between University officials and the Havre Police Department (or other local law enforcement agencies involved). Confidential contact information will be accessible ONLY to authorized University officials and will not be disclosed, except to law enforcement officials in furtherance of a missing person investigation.

In the event a student is under 18 years of age and not emancipated, MSU-Northern must notify a custodial parent or guardian within 24 hours of the determination that the student is missing, in addition to notifying any additional contact person designated by the student. Regardless of whether the student has identified a confidential contact, is above the age of 18, or is an emancipated minor, MSU-Northern will inform the local police department (or the local law enforcement with jurisdiction) that the student is missing.

Students are encouraged to keep confidential contact information and their whereabouts up to date, as this will help considerably during an investigation. To add or change your confidential contact, please contact the MSU-Northern Dean of Students Office (406-265-4113 or deanofstudents@msun.edu).