Staying Safe on a College Campus Begins Before Enrollment

Staying safe on a college campus is top priority. Preparing for college is an exciting time for young adults. It is often their first taste of independence, as many will choose to live on a college campus. The college student often looks at recreational activities, courses of study, sports, etc. when picking a college, but safety is often overlooked.

Safety is an important element in picking the right college and making an informed decision. There are plenty of safety tactics and precautions for a student to take, but staying safe on a college campus should begin before enrollment. 

Crime Reports

Crime reports and statistics can provide future college students and parents a general idea of how prevalent crime is on a particular college campus. This data is actually quite easy to find, especially if the college participates in a federal student aid program. Any higher education institute that offers benefits from federal student aid programs must report crime statistics and post campus security rules.

Private and public colleges are also required to publish annual crime statistic reports under the “Federal Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act.” Crime reports can often be found on a college's website. If not, the U.S. Dept of Education keeps a list of all published crime reports. 

Tips for Campus Safety

First Hand Examination, a college campus tour, is the perfect opportunity to examine a college campus for any potential safety issues. Take a notepad to make notes of any safety issues found or ask questions of the tour guide. Here are some college campus safety questions to ask about:

• What type of locks or security measures are on dorm entry and exit doors?
• During what hours are these doors locked? 
• Are dorm doors allowed to be propped open during the summer?
• What type of locks and/or security measures are on dorm windows?
• Do inner dorm doors have a peephole?
• Is there a campus security team or police department in place and what are the hours and days of operation? 
• Is there an escort service available during night hours?
• Is there a shuttle or transportation service on campus?
• Where are call boxes or emergency phones located on campus?
• Do all campus paths, recreation facilities, parking lots, etc. have nighttime lighting?

Staying safe on a college campus requires developing a plan of action, so get started with these helpful tips! 

This post is brought to you by Argosy University. Drawing upon our more than 30-year history of granting degrees in professional psychology, Argosy University has developed a curriculum that focuses on interpersonal skills and practical experience alongside academic learning. Because getting a degree is one thing. Succeeding, quite another.