Missing Student Policy and Procedure
The Tianjin Juilliard School 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:
• where there is a suspicion that the person may be a victim of foul play;
• who has expressed suicidal thoughts/ideas;
• who is drug/alcohol dependent;
• who is in a life threatening situation;
• who has been with persons who may endanger the student’s welfare;
• who is overdue to return to campus, who has missed a number of classes/appointments/lessons and who is unheard from after giving a specific return time to friends or family;
• who is unresponsive to several attempts to reach the student via email, mobile or other means.
Designation of Emergency Contact Information for Graduate School 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 update or change their emergency contact person and/or contact information by contacting the Registrar.
• 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 is made by the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs unless local law enforcement agency is the entity that informs the School 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 :
• Katherine Chu, Interim Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, katherine.chu@tianjinjuilliard.edu.cn
• Grace Hao, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Grace.Hao@tianjinjuilliard.edu.cn
Any missing student report will be referred immediately to the Facilities and Public Safety Office at Tianjin Juilliard by the designated staff members listed above.
• The individuals listed above, with the assistance of Facilities and Public Safety Office 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, WeChat, Whatsapp and email.
• If search efforts are unsuccessful in locating the student in a reasonable amount of time as determined by the Office of Academic and Student Affairs in consultation with Facilities and Public Safety Office 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 Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs (or designee) in collaboration with Facilities and Public Safety Office 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. 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 Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs or designee will notify the emergency contact previously identified by the student (for students 18 and over) and advise that the student is believed to be missing.
Missing Students’ Communications
• In accordance with established School emergency procedures, the Office of Public Affairs 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 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
In consultation with on-call personnel and security, The Tianjin 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:
• Tianjin Juilliard may notify emergency contacts and parents/guardians if made aware that a student has sustained a serious injury or illness.
• Tianjin 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.
• Tianjin 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.
• Tianjin Juilliard may notify emergency contacts and parents/guardians if it is determined that a student is missing. For all of the circumstance outlined above, The Tianjin Juilliard School may determine whether or not to notify emergency contacts and parents/guardians according to the specific circumstance.