Emergency and trusted contacts for students

From August 2024 the University of Dundee is asking all students to provide us with contact details for both their emergency contact and also a trusted contact.

Emergency contact, traditionally called ‘next of kin’, is the person who would be told in the event something very serious happened involving you.

Trusted contact is a person who could be reached when there is a serious concern for your safety or wellbeing, but it is not an emergency situation.

These are two different people (although some students may choose to use the same person for both). Introducing the request for trusted contact details is part of our commitment to creating a safe community and tackling Gender Based Violence.

Emergency contact information

Requirement for registration

When you register, you must provide an emergency contact. This can be a parent, guardian, partner or friend. Your emergency contact might be different from your trusted contact. Make sure your emergency contact is someone you trust and is responsible. Let them know their details have been provided and include a mobile number for quick contact. Please review and update this information regularly on eVision.

When the university might use the emergency contact

Your emergency contact might be reached if there’s an urgent risk to your immediate health or safety. The decision to contact them will be made by two senior members of Student Services staff, such as:

• Director of Student Services
• Deputy Directors of Student Services
• Assistant Director of Wellbeing
• Student Support and Disability Managers

They will use their professional judgment to decide whether to alert your emergency contact.

Confidentiality and student notification

We respect your confidentiality and will try to inform you before contacting your emergency contact unless you cannot provide informed consent, it’s not possible to contact you first, or doing so would cause unreasonable delay.

Examples of when emergency contact may be used

• You are admitted to hospital and unable to contact others
• You suffer a serious injury, there’s a risk to your life, or in the event of your death
• During a major emergency incident (e.g., fire)
• There’s a serious concern for your safety or the safety of others
• You are missing and there are immediate safety concerns
• You are experiencing a mental health crisis indicating serious and immediate risk
• You are involved in an accident or are a victim of crime

Trusted contact information

Requirement for registration

Besides the emergency contact, you are encouraged to provide a trusted contact for non-emergency situations where there is serious concern about your wellbeing. This can be a parent, guardian, partner or friend. It may be the same as your emergency contact or someone different. Providing a trusted contact is optional but strongly recommended. Your trusted contact should be responsible, preferably in the UK, and speak good English. You should make sure they are aware their details have been provided and include a mobile number. Please review and update this information regularly on eVision. You can withdraw consent for a trusted contact at any time via eVision.

When the university might use the trusted contact

Your trusted contact might be reached in serious non-emergency situations based on the judgment of senior Student Services staff and consultation with other relevant staff members.

Confidentiality and student notification

We respect your confidentiality and will inform you before contacting your trusted contact unless you cannot provide informed consent, it’s not possible to contact you first, or doing so would cause unreasonable delay.

Examples of when your trusted contact may be used

• You are admitted to hospital and unable to contact others
• You suffer a serious physical injury, including self-harm
• You stop engaging with your studies and we can’t reach you
• There are emerging concerns about your engagement, attendance, or behaviour, and you haven’t responded to multiple contact attempts
• You haven’t been seen in your halls of residence and we can’t reach you
• You have an illness that appears to be worsening and could seriously impact your wellbeing
• You are experiencing a mental health deterioration or crisis

Contact procedure

If we decide to alert your trusted contact, we will first attempt to contact you using your university email address and any phone number that you have provided us with. The authorizing heads of service or a designated staff member will then reach out, as appropriate to the situation.