Missing Persons Information

Dean of Students

Missing Student and Preliminary Wellness Assessment Policy 

University of Northern Colorado 

Policy Owner: Dean of Students
Effective Date: August 12, 2026
Review Cycle: At least every three years
Authority: Colorado Revised Statutes § 23-5-141(5), as amended by Colorado Senate Bill 26-120 (2026).  

  1. Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to establish procedures for responding to a missing student report to define UNC’s preliminary wellness assessment process, and to ensure timely notification to law enforcement when required. This policy is intended to promote student safety while complying with Colorado law and applicable federal privacy requirements.
  2. Scope: This policy applies to all students enrolled at UNC.
  3. Policy Statement: UNC takes all missing student reports seriously and will act immediately. When a report is received, UNC will:
    • Immediately notify the UNC Police Department or appropriate law enforcement agency; or
    • Initiate a preliminary wellness assessment in accordance with this policy; or
    • Both.There is no specific period of time a person must wait before filing a missing student report. A preliminary wellness assessment may be bypassed for any report received by UNC Police outside regular business hours.
  4. Reporting a Missing Student: Reports may be made by anyone with concern for the student’s whereabouts, including but not limited to:
    • Students
    • Family members
    • Legal guardians
    • Faculty members
    • Staff members
    • Friends or roommatesReports should be directed immediately to UNC Police at 970-351-2245.
  5. Preliminary Wellness Assessment: If UNC receives a missing student report and there is no credible evidence of risk to the student’s safety, UNC may conduct a preliminary wellness assessment. The assessment will begin immediately and may include all required steps simultaneously when warranted by circumstances.
    • 5.1 Required Assessment Steps: A preliminary wellness assessment must include:
      • Digital Contact Attempt: UNC will attempt digital contact with the student using all reasonably available institutional communication channels, including:
        • UNC student email (BearMail)
        • Message through the learning management system (Canvas)
        • Phone calls or text messages to mobile, local, permanent telephone numbers or other contact information provided by the student for emergency notification purposes
      • Residential Verification: For students living in UNC-operated housing, an authorized representative will attempt to contact the student at their assigned residence. For the purpose of this policy, UNC-operated housing includes residence halls, Lawrenson Hall Apartments, Arlington Park Apartments, Berkenkotter House and Trotter House. Authorized representatives include:
        • UNC Police Officers
        • Housing & Residential Education staff
        • Dean of Students Office staff
        • Other employees specifically designated by UNCUNC Police officers are available to conduct residential verifications outside regular business hours.
      • Academic and Social Inquiry: UNC may contact family members, residence hall staff, advisors, coaches and other appropriate individuals to determine the student’s most recent attendance, participation or known whereabouts. Information requests will be limited to the information reasonably necessary to locate the students.
  6. Emergency Contact Attempt: If the student is not located within six (6) hours after UNC receives the missing student report, UNC will attempt to contact the student’s designated emergency contact.Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act (Pub. L No. 110-315, 122 Stat. 3078 (2008)) students who live in UNC-operated housing may designate a separate Confidential Contact person to be notified in case the student is reported to be missing.
  7. Law Enforcement Notification: UNC will immediately notify UNC Police or another appropriate local law enforcement agency when:
    • UNC elects not to conduct a preliminary wellness assessment; or
    • When there is credible evidence indicating risk to the student’s safety.Following notification, law enforcement will proceed under applicable missing person reporting procedures.
  8. Documentation Requirements: UNC will maintain contemporaneous written documentation of every preliminary wellness assessment. Required records include:
    • Date and time the report was received.
    • Name and role of the employee who received the report.
    • Date, time, method and outcome of every contact attempt.
    • Names and roles of employees participating in the preliminary wellness assessment.
    • The reason any required preliminary wellness assessment step could not be completed within six hours.
    • Date and time a missing person report was made to law enforcement.
  9. Record Retention: Records related to a missing student report and preliminary wellness assessment will be retained for a minimum of three (3) years from the date the report was received. These records will be made available to law enforcement upon request. If a student remains missing for thirty (30) days, UNC will provide documentation, upon request, of the UNC’s efforts to locate the student to the student’s designated emergency contact, as permitted by applicable federal and state privacy laws.
  10. Privacy and Confidentiality: Information disclosed during a preliminary wellness assessment must be limited to information reasonably necessary to locate the student. Information gathered through the assessment may not be used for any other purpose and will be handled in compliance with:
    • FERPA
    • Applicable Colorado privacy laws
    • UNC privacy policies
  11. Policy Review: This policy will be made publicly available on UNC’s website and reviewed and updated at least once every three years.