UNIVERSITY WEAPONS POLICY AND STORAGE POLICY

The University has a weapons policy that outlines various definitions, storage facilities, and corresponding procedures for safe handling and transportation of firearms and other weapons. Based on this policy, no person, student or University employee, may carry or possess a weapon, regardless of whether the person has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, on University premises except as authorized by the University weapons policy.

Students residing in University residence halls or visiting campus must store all weapons at the University’s weapons storage facility located adjacent to the University Police Department. All weapons must be unloaded and in a hard gun case. Storage of any weapon in a parked vehicle on campus is strictly prohibited. Concealed carry permits are not recognized on campus.

Licensed peace officers working in the course and scope of their employment as law enforcement officers and employees of a contracted private security company, registered to carry firearms pursuant to Title 37, Chapter 60, MCA, working in the course and scope of their employment, are authorized to carry loaded firearms on campus.

Students and employees who violate the provisions of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion or termination of employment. The University Police Department shall be responsible for appropriate enforcement of the policy for visitors and others on campus which may include removal from the campus, restriction of access to campus under section 1200.00 of the Facilities Use Manual, criminal and/or civil proceedings.

MISSING STUDENT POLICY

MSU has established a Missing Student Policy concerning the procedures for reporting and responding to reports of missing students. After 24 hours, when students are unaccounted for, they are presumed missing and the missing student procedures are invoked.

In accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act, MSU has a procedure that is followed when residential students are determined to be missing for 24 hours. Students residing in campus housing will be informed annually that each student has the option to identify a person designated as a confidential missing person contact to be notified by MSU no later than 24 hours after the time the student is determined to be missing by the designated University officials authorized to make that determination (specifically, the University Police Department) or the local law enforcement

agency in which the student went missing. When students are informed of their option to provide a confidential contact, they are advised that their contact information will be registered confidentially, and that this information will be accessible only to authorized campus officials and law enforcement and that it may not be disclosed outside of a missing person investigation.

Reports of missing students should be referred immediately to the University Police Department. If members of the MSU community believe that a student has been missing for 24 hours, it is critical that they report that information to UPD by calling (406) 994-2121. When a student is reported missing by any source, the University will determine whether the report is valid and, if so, will institute action to find the student. It will also notify other appropriate law enforcement agencies and specified University officials.

If the student has designated a missing person contact as recommended by this policy, or as offered by Housing, MSU will notify that contact person within 24 hours, if the student is determined to have been missing for 24 hours. If the missing student is under 18 years old and is not emancipated, MSU will notify the custodial parent or guardian and any other designated contact person within 24 hours.

For all missing students, MSU will notify the local law enforcement agency within 24 hours of the determination that the student is missing, unless the local law enforcement agency was the entity that made the determination that the student is missing.

Missing Student Procedures – If the student is under the age of 18 and is not an emancipated individual, UPD will notify the student’ parent of guardian and any other designated contact person within 24 hours.

Regardless of whether the student has identified a contact person, if above the age of 18, or is an emancipated minor, the University will inform the local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction in the area that the student is missing within 24 hours.

PARENTAL NOTIFICATION POLICY

Montana is one of two states in the country where State privacy law is more restrictive than Federal privacy law. Montana Code Annotated 20-25-515 - Release of student records prevent any State agency from releasing student records. When the Family Education Rights to Privacy Act (FERPA) was amended in 1998 to include parental notification provisions, the Montana University System determined that the above state law would prohibit such notification without the consent of the student.