Lost and Found Guide

Tips for posting a found item

• If you find a high-value item, such as a diamond ring or more than $100 cash, the Lost and Found policy requires it to be turned in to Central Stores (195 General Services), where it will be placed in secure storage.
• Use a general item description in the online post and require the claimant to provide details about the object to determine ownership.
• If you succeed in reuniting the item with its owner, log in to the Lost and Found site, select your entry, and click the "mark as resolved" button to remove the listing.
• Unresolved entries are automatically removed after 90 days.

Tips for finding a lost item

• In addition to posting on the website, check with departments in the vicinity where the item likely was lost. Many departments keep found items at their front desks.
• If you find your lost item, log in to the Lost and Found site, select your entry and click the "mark as resolved" button to remove the listing.
• Unresolved entries are automatically removed after 90 days.

Department and office lost and found areas

• Departments and offices should retain found items for at least 10 days. High-volume locations can retain items for longer periods.
• Send student ID cards to the ISU Card Office, 0530 Beardshear Hall, 515-294-2727.
• Valuable items -- such as jewelry, electronics, and credit cards -- must be held in a secure location and posted on the lost and found website. Please use general terms rather than a specific description of the item (see tips for posting found items).
• Areas without a secure location can contact ISU Surplus, , 515-294-5762, about pickup (instructions below).
• After 10 days, departments can request item pickup by ISU Surplus for secure storage. ISU Surplus will schedule a pickup time.
• Pickup instructions:
  • Submit a completed ISU Surplus Excess Property Disposal Form (EPDF) to .
  • Include a note with the approximate location of where the item was found.
  • Keep a copy of the EPDF with the item.
• ISU Surplus retains items for an additional 90 days after pickup before releasing to public sale.
• Valuables such as rings, watches, tablets, and phones are held for 12 months before they are released to public sale.

Abandoned property

• Abandoned property such as bicycles and items from ISU residence facilities are handled as lost-and-found items.
• ISU Police hold abandoned bicycles in secure storage for 90 days.
• After the holding period, ISU Surplus releases abandoned property to public sale.
• ISU Surplus works with an approved recycler to dismantle and recycle all unclaimed mobile phones, flash drives and portable electronic storage devices.

Busy lost and found centers

Hilton Coliseum, Jack Trice Stadium, and athletics facilities

Items lost in athletics facilities, including Hilton Coliseum and Jack Trice Stadium, are held for about three months, then sent to Central Stores. Valuables such as keys, phones, glasses, wallets, IDs and jewelry are held longer. Items can be claimed at the guest services office, located inside the street-level doors on the west side of Hilton Coliseum (open only during events). Please use the online submission form to report lost items.

Memorial Union

Items are kept at the information desk for approximately one month, then sent to Central Stores. The information desk is located on the MU second floor (east side, near the parking ramp). Contact: 515-296-6848.

Parks Library

Lost items are kept at the main desk. Items that smell badly, containers with food, and toiletries will be thrown away prior to closing time. Liquids in containers such as water bottles will be dumped nightly. Lost items are sent to Central Stores after 14 business days. Contact: , 515-294-3642.

Recreation Services

Items lost in Beyer Hall, Lied Recreation Center and State Gym are kept at the service desk of that building for 30 days, then sent to Central Stores. Valuables such as credit cards and jewelry are secured. Gym gear such as undergarments, swim wear and toiletries are discarded. Contact: 515-294-4980.

Residence halls

Lost items are recorded and held at the residence hall front desk. Unclaimed items are sent to Central Stores at the end of the year. Bedding and personal items (undergarments and towels, for example) are discarded. Other items are held for 90 days, then released to public sale. Contact: Hall desks and community offices.

Iowa State Center

The Iowa State Center includes three facilities: Fisher Theater, Scheman Building, and Stephens Auditorium. Lost items are kept for 30 days at either the Stephens ticket office (main floor) or Scheman guest services desk (first floor). Contact: 515-294-7319.