Safety Steps for Students
Easy steps families can take to help their student be safe at college.
Talk about safety with your college student.
-
Encourage them
to be partners in their own safety. While the college has taken precautions to increase safety, ultimately the students control their own safety through the choices they make. -
Encourage them to
sign up for the College's emergency notification system. Help them
plan to deal with emergencies should they arise. Talk through different types of emergencies and create a plan. This can be as simple as who to call if they are frightened or how to get rid of that pesky date who doesn't know when to leave.Acknowledge
that your student wants to make friends but remind him/her that first impressions are not always accurate. They should understand not to leave a new acquaintance alone in their rooms while they run down the hall, or invite someone back to their room on a first date.Inform them
that while their new residence hall room will be home for the next 8 months, they will still need to keep an eye on belongings. Items left in plain sight are much more likely to be stolen. Most thefts are committed by hall-mates or their guests - not strangers.Encourage your student
to use the shuttle service and on-campus escort service and to call Campus Safety with questions about their safety.Help your student
make a list of valuables including computers, iPod, cell phone CDs, software, jewelry, etc (record brand names, serial numbers and take a picture). Keep a copy at home and send one with your student, in case anything is lost or stolen.
Model good safety choices for your college student.
Abide by laws and policies.
They look to you to set the standard.Model good conflict resolution skills.
Many of the issues that come up at college can be easily resolved by communicating effectively with roommates, professors, and staff members.Lock your doors, pull your blinds at night and don't carry large sums of cash.
Point out what you do and why you do it.If you don't already have an inventory
of your own electronic equipment and valuables, make one at the same time as your student. If you do have a home inventory, show them that you have it.Contact your insurance agent
and ask if your student's belongings are covered while they are at college. If not, consider purchasing a rider to your homeowners or renters' insurance.
