Pursuing a college education at a U.S. institution is a great opportunity. Providing a comfortable and safe campus for all students is a top priority for all colleges and universities in the U.S. If you are unable to visit in person, with your parents or on your own, the college campuses that interest you, go to the schools' Web sites for information about campus safety. The Web sites should provide you with contact information for safety and security professionals, as well.

What questions should students and parents ask tour guides or college representatives when visiting U.S. campuses?
Tour guides are probably not your best source of information; they do not usually have extensive statistics or information on campus safety. I suggest approaching students you see on campus who are involved in their normal routine and asking them about their perceptions of safety. While it is important to keep in mind that this type of unscientific "man on the street" survey should not be taken too seriously, students might provide some insight you can use. If you do this at all of the campuses you visit, you can compare the answers and get a general idea about how comfortable students are.

Also, if I were a parent on a tour with my son or daughter, I would stop by the public safety office or police department and chat with the employees there. Of course, they will be putting their best foot forward, but it can be enlightening when you compare the departments at different campuses that you visit.

What should parents/guardians and students look for on U.S. college campuses and in the student housing to ensure safety?
One key item to look for in residence halls is the access control system. That is, how are residents differentiated from nonresidents when entering the buildings? Other things to look out for: evidence that external doors are frequently propped open, lack of sufficient lighting in and around the main entrance, and trees growing close to first- and second-floor windows.

What crime statistics should parents and students request from a school before arriving on campus?
Requesting information from the college is one way to do it. The college is legally mandated to provide that information. I also suggest parents and students do their own research. The Department of Education compiles and makes available reported criminal offenses for more than 6,000 colleges and universities in the U.S.

Again, it is important to keep in mind that often times these types of comparisons are not equal, especially when you look at data from a large urban campus with a high percentage of commuter students and compare it to a suburban or rural campus with a large base of resident students. Another point to mention is that a campus safety department that is doing a good job cracking down on crime on campus will report more crimes than a department that is reporting fewer crimes. Even though there are more crimes reported at the first campus, I would argue that the proactive campus safety department makes the first campus safer than the second one does.

What preventative measures work best for students to stay safe on campus? Do you have any additional tips or advice for students beginning their first year on campus?
It is important to remember that colleges and universities are generally safe places. An 18- to 22-year-old is safer, statistically, on a college campus than off campus. Because campuses are safer, it can lead to students failing to pay attention to their surroundings. Therefore, remember that there is no substitute for personal vigilance when it comes to safety.