Minors on Campus – Abuse and Neglect Policy
I. Presence of Minors on Campus
Minors come to Maryville University (the University)’s campus for a variety of reasons. They may visit as prospective students, come as participants on field trips or community service projects, or come to attend camps or athletic events. Whatever the reason for their presence, Maryville University personnel are to be particularly vigilant regarding their safety and security. This duty increases as the University’s role in their care, custody or control while on campus increases. Please refer to the University’s Policy & Guidelines for the Protection of Minors.
II. Definitions
Minor: Any individual under the age of 18.
Reasonable Cause: A standard of reasonable suspicion, rather than conclusive proof. It does not require that the individual making the observation conduct an investigation prior to making the report of his or her suspicion that a child has been abused or neglected or is at risk of it. For the purpose of this policy, a Minor is any individual under 18 years of age.
III. Reporting Suspected Abuse or Neglect Policy
Consistent with Missouri law, it is the University’s policy that any University employee or volunteer who has reasonable cause to suspect that a Minor, who is on campus or otherwise participating in University-sponsored events or activities, has been or may be subjected to abuse or neglect by any person (whether University personnel or not) or who observes a Minor being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in abuse or neglect shall immediately make a report to the Missouri Department of Social Services’ Children’s Division via its Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline Unit (1-800-392-3738 or 1-844-CAN-TELL).
In addition to making a report to the Missouri Hotline, the University employee or volunteer is required to report any suspected abuse or neglect to the Campus Public Safety Office at 314-529-9500. Nothing herein precludes making a report to a law enforcement agency or juvenile office, but any such report does not take the place of reporting or causing a report to be made to the Children’s Division hotline.
If there is reason to believe that the victim of the abuse or neglect is a resident of another state or was injured as a result of an act that occurred in another state, the report may be made to the child protection agency of that other state having authority to receive such reports pursuant to that state’s laws in lieu of reporting it on the Missouri Children’s Division Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline. If that other state’s agency accepts the report, no report is required to be made, but nevertheless may be made, to the Missouri hotline.
Missouri law grants any person making a good faith report of suspected child abuse or neglect immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise result by reason of such action. In addition, an employer may not subject an employee to an adverse employment action for making such a report.
For more information about reporting child abuse and neglect under Missouri law, please visit: https://dss.mo.gov/cd/pdf/guidelines_can_reports.pdf. In addition, the Director of Public Safety can be contacted with questions about obligations related to reporting child abuse and neglect.
Resources on the Warning Signs for Abused or Neglected Children may be found here.
The Director of Human Resources serves as the Minors on Campus Coordinator and may be contacted at (314) 529-9478.
To view all policies and related information for youth programs, visit our Policies for Youth Programs and Camps page.
Revised December 6, 2019