Campus Safety Tips for your College Student

You may be just a packed-minivan ride away from sending your college student off into virtual freedom. While he’s dreaming of new friends, fall football games and late-night pizza runs, you’re probably worrying more about campus safety.

Fortunately, we have a few easy-to-remember campus safety tips that you can give to your student, leaving him with plenty of brain power to get through his first semester of classes.

Dorm Room Security 

Dorm life has likely changed since you were in college. Between laptops, TVs and video game systems, today’s dorm rooms are chock-full of high-tech gadgetry. Advising your student to lock the room every time he leaves and keeping valuables out of sight may seem like obvious tips, but they’re important ones.

Resident advisors and dorm security might make the residence hall feel like it’s a protective bubble, but with so many people going in and out of the building at all hours, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

[Tip: If your student is living in a dorm, his personal property is likely covered under your existing homeowners insurance policy. But that might not be the case for off-campus housing. Call for confirmation on both counts. Otherwise, you might consider renters insurance or security camera systems.]

Campus Safety 

Of course, the reason you got your kid all those great gadgets was to help him study, right? Chances are laptops, MP3 players, purses and wallets are going to be travelling all over campus. Students should always keep their property within view, whether they’re in class, at the library or on the quad.

You’ll also want to consider getting your student’s laptop or iPod engraved with their name or some other form of identification. Take pictures of their valuables, and note any serial numbers. This will all make items easier to identify and locate in case they get stolen.

Out and about 

College is also a time to meet new people and have some great new experiences. When heading out to any event, your student should always remember to use the buddy system: never walk across campus alone at night. (Don’t fret! Many campuses offer a service that will meet a student at any location and escort them back to their dorm.) Check with the dorm’s resident advisor or the school’s website to see what security options are available; and either bookmark the links or add the contact information to phones or laptops for easy reference.

Another great security tip for college students is to always have an eye on their drinks. Whether at a party, out tailgating or hanging out in the dorm, a student should never leave any drink unattended. Even if left for a short time, a drink can be compromised. Students should get a new drink instead of going back to the old one. RAINN.org even recommends that students put their hands over the top of their drink cups, or their thumb over the top of a bottle, to make it more difficult for someone to drop something into the beverage they’re holding.

These are just a few campus security tips and tricks to pass along to students, to keep them safe and to keep their stuff safe on campus. Many campuses will have more information available for you and your student once you arrive—so listen closely and take notes. Of course, don’t forget to tell him to have a little fun while he’s there too.

Have you had a talk about campus safety with your child?  

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