School Safety Reminders for Parents
December 29, 2014
As a parent, sending a child to college is a big transition and it is natural to be concerned about your child’s safety while in another country. To limit these concerns, it is important that you and your child are familiar with the school and new place they will live.
A recent article from U.S. News and World Report offers a few tips for parents and students to help ensure a safe study abroad experience. Their recommendations include:
- Check safety stats: Visit a school’s website to research security processes and campus safety statistics. You can also use the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Data Analysis Cutting Tool that helps you research crimes at different institutions and campuses.
- Research the local area: According to the latest SEVIS by the Numbers report, there are currently more than 8,900 Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified schools in the United States. When applying to schools, investigate the location of a school to determine if the school is right for your child. This includes if the school is in a rural, urban or suburban area.
- Ask sources: Talk with the admissions office or international student counselors at a prospective school to get your safety questions answered. For local assistance, you can visit a nearby EducationUSA advising center to talk to one of their advisors.
- Chat with your child: Sit down with your child before they depart for school and talk with them about safety precautions while at school.
Once your son or daughter arrives on campus, the school’s designated school official can help answer additional safety questions. Have some safety tips to share with other parents? Share them with us on our Facebook page.