Campus Safety Tips for Your College Student this Fall

Keeping Your College Student Safe

Campus safety remains a national concern as the number of crimes and tragedies
occurring at universities across the U.S. increases each year. In fact, the
National Center for Education Statistics report there are as many as 27,000 criminal incidents reported to police
and security agencies each year against persons and property on campus
at public and private post-secondary institutions.

As a new year has started up for many Indiana college students, we encourage
parents to talk to their children about making good choices and taking
safety precautions seriously. Parents and students also need to keep college
administrators accountable in upholding their campus as an environment
where all students can have a safe and successful school year.

Campus Safety Tips To Review With Your College Student

• Residence hall and dorm safety starts with access. Don’t loan keys
  to others, leave or prop doors open. Never let strangers into residence
  halls. Never enter another student’s room alone (or with others)
  if you feel uncomfortable.
• Pick the road most traveled. Always take the path that is more populated,
  lit up and visible, even if it is longer. Report any broken lights to
  campus authorities. Be aware of lighting around entrances to residence
  halls and other buildings and don’t travel alone at night.
• Recognize the emergency phones available throughout campus. These blue
  light boxes are strategically placed in parking lots, along university
  trails, and throughout campus. Tell your child to not be afraid to use
  them if concerned or to dial one if they feel they need an escort to provide
  a safe way home. Campus security will help. Keeping campus security’s
  contact information on hand can also help if an emergency phone is not
  available.
• Let others know the schedule. Students should let their roommates, close
  friends, or even parents know their schedules. Students can also save
  their schedule on their computers or personal devices if an emergency
  should occur and others need access to it.
• It’s never a good idea to drink alcohol or take drugs and drive.
  For students who drink even small amounts of alcohol, it is very important
  to remember never to get into a car and drive while intoxicated. While
  being under the influence in college usually has only minor consequences,
  even if you are underage, drinking or taking drugs and driving can cause
  fatal accidents.
• Understand car safety. Students should never leave their car unlocked or
  with the windows rolled down. Safety officials agree that when a driver
  is walking towards their parked car, they should approach it at an angle
  that allows them to see around the vehicle, and check the back seat before
  opening the door.
• Don’t be distracted while driving or riding a bike. Cell phones are
  best left in the backpack while students are driving or riding their bikes
  on campus. Not only do cell phone distractions increase the risk of a
  crash dramatically, it is against the law for any driver under the age
  of 21 to use a telecommunication device while driving unless making a
  911 emergency call.
• Maintain privacy on social media. Social media is a great platform for
  connecting with friends and family worldwide or sharing updates about
  college life. However, students should stay aware of who else could be
  viewing your profile and program privacy settings to friends and family
  only. College students, as tempting as it is to do, should avoid adding
  the locations to their photos, as it reveals their exact location to strangers.
• Know where you’re going. Let your child know that whenever they are
  getting ready to leave and explore a new area of town or campus, they
  should make sure they know where they might be heading and how to get
  there. They should also be cognizant of how they will travel to and from
  the location because city transportation or taxi services may only be
  accessible at certain times. Students should walk with confidence and
  avoid looking confused, even when trying to navigate a new location. If
  they find themselves in an unfamiliar area, don’t be distracted,
  and focus on finding your destination quickly.
• Learn how to defend yourself. Students will feel safer and more confident,
  especially if they live or travel alone, once they know how to protect
  themselves, physically. Many college campuses offer self-defense type
  classes that will provide safety strategy and tips if students find themselves
  in a dangerous situation.

Laws Protecting College Students

Several laws have been set into place to help college students stay safe
on campus. These rules have also helped direct universities to prevent
crime and address other serious safety issues.

• The
  Jeanne Clery Act is a consumer protection law that aims to provide transparency around
  campus crime policy and statistics. In order to comply with Clery Act
  requirements, colleges and universities must understand what the law entails,
  where their responsibilities lie, and what they can do to actively foster
  campus safety. Although an institution can have a plan and set up a framework
  for safety on campus, students’ awareness of their surroundings
  and their own actions will help to keep them safe.
• The National Center for Campus Public Safety (NCCPS) exists to support campus officials in creating safer and stronger campus
  communities. The National Center for Campus Public Safety was established
  in 2013 with a $2.3 million bipartisan grant from the US Department of
  Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The Center collaborates with
  campus safety, law enforcement, and emergency management professionals;
  administrators; students; advocacy organizations; community leaders; professional
  associations; federal agencies; and others who work tirelessly to support
  safer campuses.

Keeping a realistic and educated, open conversation with your child about
campus policies and your concerns will help college aged students think
about safety and how to prevent injuries and accidents through making
smart choices. These open conversations can also help ease a parent’s
mind that their child will be just fine.

Keeping Colleges Safe and Accountable For Your Family

Wagner Reese wishes all families a wonderful start to the school year.
But if your college student suffers from an unfortunate injury or
wrongful death because of campus safety issues or another student’s negligence,
Wagner Reese is here to help. Call us today to schedule a free consultation
and we will ensure you and your family receive the justice you deserve:
(888) 204-8440.