Returning to school is a fun, exciting time full of opportunity. But regardless of your background, stepping onto a college campus for the first time can be scary. For most, it is the first time away from home. It’s the first time away from family. And usually, it is also the first time away from your closest friends. 

As a recent college graduate, I still remember how I felt when my parents drove away for the first time after dropping me off. I felt so much freedom and excitement, but I also felt scared and nervous about navigating a new environment. After all, there are scary things out there, and I never had to deal with any of them on my own until now. 

In this post, we will explore the impact of campus crime, share practical steps students can take to minimize the risk of being victimized, and offer valuable resources to help ensure your safety on campus.

I recall one night my roommate went to a college bar with a friend, just the two of them. They took drinks from a group of men they didn’t know, graciously accepting the free drinks and not knowing any better. She told me later that the drinks were on the table at a booth, came directly from a bottle provided by the bar, and looked seemingly untouched. 

Neither of them remembered anything after that. My roommate woke up in a fog the next morning, not knowing how she got home or what happened to her. Eventually, we learned that a group of our close friends noticed their strange text messages, came to the bar, and took them home safely to bed. My roommate had been roofied, and the outcome could have been much worse if our friends had not shown up. 

After that night, I vowed to be much more situationally aware. Inevitably, there were a few times after that when I was caught in dangerous situations, but I knew I had to be smart about how I handled them. I also realized that being safe doesn’t only apply to partying.

For example, I often drove to my downtown San Francisco campus for night classes ending at 9:30 p.m. I usually had to park a few blocks away, but I always asked classmates to walk me to my car after class. In return, I would drive them to theirs. There is strength in numbers.

Of course, there are situations you can never be fully prepared for. However, there are things you can do to mitigate potential risks. Whether you are an athlete like me traveling for games every week, in Greek life going to parties and socials, or just walking to and from class, it is important to do everything you can to keep yourself safe. A student going to college should come with the knowledge to recognize potential threats and avoid bad situations.

Understanding Campus Crime: Key Statistics and Trends

According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Education's Campus Safety Survey, there were 31,137 criminal offenses reported on over 10,000 college campuses in 2021. The most common crimes reported were burglaries (23%), rape (21%), motor vehicle thefts (19%), and unwanted touching or fondling (16%).

Of those 31,137 crimes, 42% were classified as Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) offenses, which include domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

Hate crimes are offenses like vandalism, arson, assault, or murder that are motivated by bias against the victim's race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity. In 2021, there were 1,626 hate crimes reported on college campuses — the highest number ever reported since the Department of Education began collecting data in 2005. Over the last 16 years, the number of reported hate crimes has increased by nearly 3,600%.

These alarming statistics emphasize the urgent need for all students to take proactive measures to minimize risks and ensure campus safety. It is important to take responsibility for our own safety. 

How Crime Patterns Affect Your Personal Safety

Recognizing crime patterns and their importance in daily life can help you be more aware of your surroundings. The Crime Triangle and the Routine Activities Theory explain how opportunities for crime happen and how they are influenced by our environment and situations. 

For a crime to occur, there are three elements that must happen at the same time:

You can learn more about the crime triangle in our companion post, “Awareness: A Key to Women’s Self Defense.” In that post, we provide helpful information about these topics that apply to any student returning to school, not just women.

Essential Safety Tips for College Students

If you can remove just one of these three elements, then the chances of a crime occurring decrease significantly. With a few mindful practices, students can enhance their personal safety and protect their belongings.

Here are six practices to help you stay safe in a campus setting:

Enhancing Your Situational Awareness on Campus

One of the most important things you can do to keep yourself and others safe at school is to increase your situational awareness. Situational awareness involves being aware of one’s surroundings, recognizing warning signs of potential threats, and proactively taking measures to mitigate risks. 

Whether you're a first-time college student or returning for another year, enhancing your personal safety is crucial. By practicing situational awareness, you can protect yourself and stay safe. For parents, encouraging your college-bound children to be more situationally aware can significantly contribute to their safety on campus.

To learn more about situational awareness training, check out our companion post, "The 4 Benefits of Situational Awareness." At Second Sight Training Systems, we know how important situational awareness is for maintaining a safe campus environment.

Our Situational Awareness for Safety training will help students learn to recognize and respond to potential threats. After just a short time, students will be systematically observing their surroundings, looking for behavior patterns, identifying threats, and knowing what actions to take to keep themselves safe.

After taking this course, participants agreed that they felt better prepared to:

• Observe any environment - 98.8%

• Look for and identify threats - 98.7%

• Take action and keep themselves safe - 93.1%

With a track record of successfully training thousands of participants, we are committed to enhancing student safety. Our 1-hour online training is available now and can accommodate any number of participants. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive 2-hour virtual and in-person instructor-led training for a more interactive experience.

While the transition to college life is a thrilling adventure, it also comes with new responsibilities, including staying vigilant about personal safety. By understanding the patterns of campus crime and implementing the practical safety tips outlined in this guide, you can significantly reduce your risk and enhance your overall campus experience.