Any institution participating in a Title IV federal student financial aid program that maintains on campus housing facilities must establish a missing student notification policy and related procedures for those students who live in on-campus housing and who have been missing for 24 hours in accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008, 20 U.S.C. § 1092(j).
For the purposes of this policy, Juilliard applies this policy and procedure to ALL STUDENTS regardless of campus residency.
Juilliard deems a student may be considered to be a “missing person” if the person’s absence from campus is contrary to his/her usual pattern of behavior and unusual circumstances may have caused the absence. Such circumstances could include, but not be limited to a student who:
- is reported or suspicion that the person may be a victim of foul play;
- has expressed suicidal thoughts/ideas;
- has drug/alcohol dependent;
- is in a life threatening situation;
- has been with persons who may endanger the student’s welfare;
- is overdue to return to campus, missed a number of classes/appointments/lessons and is unheard from after giving a specific return time to friends or family;
- is unresponsive to several attempts to reach the student via email, cell, or other means.
Designation of Emergency Contact Information for College Students
- During the School’s registration processes, all students are asked to designate an individual for emergency contact purposes. That designation will remain in effect until changed or revoked by the student.
- Students can updated or change their emergency contact person and/or contact information by contacting the Registrar or by logging into their WebAdvisor Account (wa.juilliard.edu).
- Students under the age of 18 and not emancipated: If a student under the age of 18 (not emancipated) is determined to be missing, the School is required to notify a custodial parent or guardian no more than 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing. The dean of student development, in consultation with the associate dean of student development, public safety, and/or residence life will determine if a student is to be considered missing, based on the reasonable provision of concerning information and evidence.
- All Students: If a student is determined to be missing, the School will notify the appropriate law enforcement agency no later than 24 hours after the determination has been made by the dean of student development, unless the local law enforcement agency was the entity that made the determination that the student is missing.
- Students contact information will be registered confidentially and will be accessible only to authorized campus officials.
- Students contact information may not be disclosed, except to law enforcement personnel in furtherance of a missing person investigation.
Missing Student Procedure
- Any individual on campus (including students, faculty, or staff) who has information that a student may be a missing person must notify one of the following individuals immediately and follow-up by submitting an online incident report:
- Barrett Hipes, Dean of Student Development: 212-799-5000 x 7315; [email protected]
- Todd Porter, Director of Residence Life: 212-799-5000 x 7403; [email protected]
- Elizabeth Scott-Francis, Assistant Director of Residence Life: 212-799-5000 x 7401; [email protected]
- Sabrina Tanbara, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs: 212-799-5000 x 7220; [email protected]
- Alli Scheetz, Assistant Director of International Advisement: 212-799-5000 x 358; [email protected]
- Adam Gagan, Director of Public Safety: 212-799-5000 x 246; [email protected]
Any missing student report will be referred immediately to the Department of Public Safety at Juilliard by the designated staff members listed above.
- The individuals listed above, with the assistance of Juilliard Public Safety and Lincoln Center Security (if applicable), will gather all essential information about the students from the reporting person, from the student’s acquaintances and from official School information sources. Such information will include: description, cellular phone number, clothes last worn, where the student might be, who the student might be with, vehicle description (if applicable), information about the physical and emotional well-being of the student, a recent photograph, a class schedule, etc.
- Appropriate designated staff and other personnel across campus will be notified to aid in the search and location of the student. Contact with the student will be attempted using text messaging, cellular phone calls, Facebook and email.
- If search efforts are unsuccessful in locating the student in a reasonable amount of time as determined by the dean of student development in consultation with Security OR it is apparent immediately that the student is a missing person (e.g. witnessed abduction), OR it has been determined that the student has been missing for more than 24 hours, the dean of student development (or designee) in collaboration with Juilliard Public Safety will contact the appropriate law enforcement agency to report the student as a missing person (Regardless of whether the student has identified a contact person, is above the age of 18, or is an emancipated minor). Law enforcement will take charge of the investigation with assistance from School officials.
- No later than 24 hours after determining that a student is missing, the dean of student development, associate dean of student development, or designee will notify the emergency contact previously identified by the student (for students 18 and over) or the custodial parent/guardian (for students under the age of 18) and advise that the student is believed to be missing.
Missing Students’ Communications
- In accordance with established School emergency procedures, the Communications Office will be part of the School’s administrative response team and is the designated spokesperson to handle media inquiries concerning a missing student.
- The local law enforcement agency in charge of the investigation and the city public information officer (PIO) will be consulted by School officials prior to the release of any information from the School so as not to jeopardize any investigation.
- Information provided to the media to elicit public assistance in the search for the missing person will be handled by the local law enforcement agency.
Policy on Emergency Contact and Parent/Guardian Notification
The Juilliard School reserves the right to contact any student’s designated emergency contact person or parent/guardian at its sole discretion in accordance with The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html?). Common circumstances include the following:
- Juilliard may notify emergency contacts and parents/guardians if made aware that a student has sustained a serious injury or illness.
- Juilliard may notify emergency contacts and parents/guardians if made aware that a student has exhibited behaviors that may be potentially harmful to the student or other individuals.
- Juilliard may notify emergency contacts and parents/guardians if made aware that a student under the age of 21 has demonstrated abuse of alcohol or other controlled substances.
- Juilliard may notify emergency contacts and parents/guardians if it is determined that a student is missing. The Juilliard School may elect not to notify emergency contacts and parents/guardians in every circumstance outlined above.