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The number of international students enrolling in American universities continue to grow at a fast pace and parents now can ensure that their children are safe even though they are thousands of miles away.

One of the major milestones for parents is to send their children to college, to a more independent atmosphere away from home. Sending their children off to distance colleges can be a big transition especially for international parents. They are so far away that parents will not be able to drop in to their children’s college and check if they are safe and sound.

University of Oregon international student recruitment assistant director of admissions Rob Hardin says that he has a young son and to send him to study in another country for four years is a daunting prospect. He said that though he would certainly send him as it would make him independent, he wouldn’t know who to talk to especially if he did not know the language.

Campuses in our country are usually safe and college officials take a lot of effort to ensure this. In order to ensure safety of their children in US colleges, international parents can take a few steps –

Campus safety statistics can be found on the website of the colleges and universities. All you have to do is to visit the website of the college, type safety in the search bar and see what comes up. Law in our country dictates that crime statistics must be disclosed by all colleges. They must publish counts of arson, robbery, murder and rape.

After going through the statistics, the next step for international parents is to find out what are the precautionary steps taken by the colleges including safe spot designation on campuses from where students can call for help and escort services to deliver your children safety to their dorm room late night. Hardin says that international parents must make sure the school they choose for their children is transparent about safety.

It is a good idea conducting a thorough research on the surrounding areas. There are over 1500 colleges and universities in our country and all of them are located in different geographical locations. In many aspects including safety, attending a college in the midst of New York City is not the same as attending one in a small town in Midwest.

It is in the interest of parents to find out if the school they choose is situated in the suburban area, rural town or major city. Parents can spend time investigating the safety of surrounding areas, in person if they can afford it.

One of the best ways to find out details and address your safety concerns is to talk to the international student counsellors or admission officials. Hardin suggests that you take your queries to the closest EducationUSA office. Run by the US Department of State, this office offers valuable information about all aspects of US education.

Last but not the least, it is recommended for international parents to have a heart-to-heart talk with their children regarding new experiences they may face especially safety precautions.