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Lost and Found

The Sheldon & Tracy Levy Student Learning Centre (SLC) provides a lost and found service as a courtesy to the campus community and is not responsible for personal items left on campus or in the community.

Guidelines

The SLC is only responsible for its own designated Lost & Found. Other designated Lost & Found locations on campus are responsible for developing or modifying, as needed, protocols and procedures related to the present guidelines and the management of their Lost & Found process.

The SLC reserves the right to determine how items are managed based upon the condition of the item when it is received.

The person who turned in the item will have no claim at any point to the item if the owner is not located.

For the purpose of definition only, the following items only, including their contents, will be classified as items of value. These are: cash, gift cards, purses, wallets, cameras, jewelry (including watches) and electronic equipment (i.e. cell phones, laptops, tablets) as well as medical equipment and/or medication. All other items will be considered items of lesser value. 

Any items posing an immediate risk, or which are either controlled by law or illegal will not be accepted by SLC Staff. University Security and/or Toronto Police will be notified immediately as needed, and SLC Staff will make every reasonable effort to secure the item before University Security and/or Toronto Police arrives. Examples: weapons, alcohol, drugs. 

Turning In Found Items

SLC Staff will:

  • Make all reasonable efforts to locate the owner of non-perishable items.
  • Record the description and location of non-perishable items turned in or found throughout the building.
  • Electronic Devices: Staff will not access or search any lost or abandoned electronic devices (phone, tablet, laptop) whether locked or unlocked for immediately apparent identifying information relating to the owner of the device. It is the responsibility of the individual to reasonably establish ownership of the lost or abandoned device. The SLC will not connect their own devices with any devices, including USBs. It should be noted that SLC staff may make an exception in special or extenuating circumstances, for example, for safety reasons, in consultation with University Campus Safety and Security and/or other departments in the University. 

Claiming an Item

Items can be claimed during the hours of operation at SLC Headquarters located on the 5th floor at SLC 516.

A rightful owner will be responsible for satisfactorily identifying the lost item before it will be returned to them. It is at the staff member’s discretion to ask questions to verify the item’s ownership. Proper identification may be requested when returning an item.

Identifiable Items

  • OneCards will be returned to the Toronto Metropolitan University OneCard office (JOR-02).
  • Any personal/identifiable items (i.e. IDs, Credit Cards, Bank Cards, etc) will be securely destroyed and disposed after 24 hours.
  • Presto Cards/Transit Cards will be securely destroyed and disposed of after 24 hours.

Unclaimed and Disposal of Items

  • Perishable items, medications, loose papers with no identifying information, and items deemed unhygienic will be safely disposed of immediately.
  • Items that are recorded, and unidentifiable items (see Identifiable Items, above) will be held for 30 days. After 30 days remaining items will subsequently be considered expired, and donated.  Once items are considered expired, information about those items and the items themselves will not be accessible.
  • Exceptions: The SLC will dispose and/or donate all lost and found items that have not been claimed at the end of each semester. This includes all items that were found within the 30 day period.

Protecting Your Property: Unattended Items

Items should never be left unattended in the SLC. Theft on campus is prevalent.

At the discretion of the SLC, any items that are identified as unattended will be taken to SLC Headquarters as a preventative measure from theft. SLC Staff will take the items as-is (how it was originally found). The SLC is not responsible for any lost items or belongings.

Questions or inquiries about Lost and Found? Contact us at slchelp@torontomu.ca