Campus Safety Tips for College Students

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As a new college student, you’re dealing with a lot of “firsts”—probably your first time away from home for more than a few days, your first time being on your own and having real control over your schedule, your first time meeting new people (students and faculty) who are different from your friends, classmates, and teachers in high school. College is also likely the first time you’re really looking out for yourself—both your physical safety and personal property. Even if you’re going to a small school in a tight-knit community, you always want to make your safety and well-being a top priority.

Below are a few basic ways you and your belongings can stay safe on campus.

Walk in well-lit areas. Obviously, you’ll have to leave your room and walk around campus for a variety of reasons. If you’re coming back to your dorm after dark, stay in lighted areas and/or walk with at least one other student if you can.

Check in with your roommate(s). You’ll likely have a different class or social schedule from your roommate, so you may not see each other regularly.  But you should always let someone know your whereabouts if you’re leaving your room. At one time, students left messages for each other on white boards on their dorm room doors (low tech, but effective!). Text messages and other forms of instant communication have come along since, and with everyone connected at all times, it seems, there’s really no reason to not let your roommate know where you are (and vice versa).

Protect your possessions. Always lock your door when you leave your room, and encourage your roommate to do the same. Even if you have friends on the same floor or in the same building, don’t leave yourself open to potential theft. And never, ever leave your bag unattended. Think about it—you’re carrying around textbooks and electronics worth a few thousand dollars. It would be a shame to call Mom and Dad and explain your bag was stolen while you were in the dining hall or library. Some campus buildings, like the dining hall or bookstore, require students to leave their bags outside and provide storage carrels for this purpose.

Create a personal inventory. A personal inventory is a list of your most valuable possessions. If you’re keeping costly electronics or sports equipment in your dorm, you should have a list of these items should you ever have to make a claim because they were lost, stolen, or damaged. Contact your insurance agent to see if they have an inventory template you can use, otherwise you can download one. Some insurance carriers even have apps that allow you to catalog your belongings instantly.

Ask your parents if their homeowners’ insurance policy extends to your on-campus housing in the dorm. If it does, this means you (or your parents) can file a claim in case something from your room is lost, stolen, or damaged.

College is great—the time in your life to learn more about yourself and your interests, and develop some independence and personal responsibility. Make the most of it, and do it safely!

Spring Break Insurance Needs for Your College Student

Spring is right around the corner, which means college students will be leaving campus for their annual spring break in just a few weeks. As if you didn’t worry about your child being at college enough already, sometimes just talking about spring break getaways can take your stress to a whole new level!  Although you may not have any input on your child’s itinerary, you can make sure they have the insurance they need while they’re off campus.

If your child is traveling, encourage them to purchase travel insurance. This coverage will protect them from costs related to cancelled reservations, many of which are nonrefundable and can come with steep penalties. Travel insurance can also help cover costs if your child’s trip is cut short due to an accident or injury (and it doesn’t necessarily have to happen to your child. If a family member passes away while your child is away from home, they won’t lose any money if they decide to return early to attend the funeral).   If your child is going abroad, consider travel medical and international health insurance, available for both short- and long-term trips. Many domestic health insurance plans will only cover a portion (at most) of an individual’s health care costs when they are out of the country, so buying a policy when going overseas is a wise investment.

Even if your child isn’t traveling to somewhere exotic, if they live off-campus and plan to be away for the entire break, make sure they have renters’ insurance. This coverage will protect their personal possessions in the event of a fire, flood, burglary, or other unfortunate situation.

And finally, be sure your child has the right personal property coverage, especially if they are living on-campus. Some schools require students to have at least a basic policy to protect agains

t unforeseen circumstances (again—fire, flood, burglary), so be sure they have enough coverage if they’re leaving any valuables, like electronics or sports equipment, in their dorm or apartment over break.

Is there anything else you’d add to this list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!