Misinformation and Misconceptions — What Parents Get Wrong About College Campus Safety

By Maureen S. Rush, M.S., CPP

When parents are sending their children off to college they often grapple with a host of concerns, chief among them being safety. Unfortunately, the prevailing narrative surrounding this issue is often riddled with misinformation and misconceptions. One of the most pervasive misunderstandings among parents and students is the focus on external crime threats rather than internal ones. Parents often worry about robbery or burglary, but the reality is that interpersonal crime—assault, sexual violence, hazing—is far more common on college campuses. This misdirected concern can lead to a false sense of security.

When evaluating a college’s environment, it’s crucial to look beyond the “shiny penny.” A school that reports zero incidents of sexual assault, for example, might not be doing as good a job as you think. High reporting numbers can indicate a robust system of support and a culture that encourages reporting, which is far preferable to an environment where students feel too afraid or unsupported to come forward.

As someone who has spent over three decades dedicated to public safety, primarily within the higher education landscape, I've witnessed the evolution of campus safety first-hand. My journey began in law enforcement with the Philadelphia Police Department and led me to the University of Pennsylvania, where I served in various capacities, including police chief and ultimately Vice President for Public Safety. Reflecting on my many years in the field, I’ve seen significant changes in how we approach safety on college campuses.

When I first took on the role of Director of Victim Support at Penn in 1994, the campus safety landscape was markedly different from what it is today. The mid-90s marked the emergence of the Clery Act, a legislative milestone that fundamentally transformed how universities across the nation approached safety and crime reporting. The Clery Act, in its infancy, was a source of confusion and complexity. Universities were striving to comply with new regulations, but with limited guidance, it was a steep learning curve.

However, as understanding of the Clery Act evolved, so did the field of campus safety. The Act has significantly improved transparency on college campuses, making critical safety information more accessible to students, parents, and the broader community. This transparency has driven universities to take a more proactive approach to safety, with many institutions investing in better training, technology, and protocols. The Clery Act has also contributed to the professionalization of campus safety, transforming it from a secondary administrative function into a specialized field with dedicated professionals who are trained to address the unique challenges of protecting a college community. Today, campus safety is recognized as a vital part of university operations, with a focus on both compliance and the well-being of students, faculty, and staff.

I often advise parents to go beyond the surface-level crime statistics and dig deeper. Look at where your child will be living, the safety of common student hangouts, and how well the university patrols these areas. Use campus public safety departments as a resource—they are there to help, and their insights can be invaluable when assessing the safety of a campus environment.

Parents should also consider how well-prepared a school is to support their child, especially if they have existing mental health concerns. Mental health services vary widely across institutions, and in many cases, waitlists and session limits can hinder students from getting the help they need. If your child is likely to need additional support, it’s essential to ensure that the university can provide it.

You can find campus safety statistics in the annual security report (ASR), a Clery-Act required document compiling an institution’s previous three years’ crime data, statistics, and prevention policies and procedures. The ASR is a key resource for parents and students, but it’s not just about the crime statistics. The narrative sections often provide the most valuable information—detailing the safety resources available, how incidents are handled, and the policies in place to protect students. These are the aspects that truly matter when assessing a campus’s commitment to safety.

Ultimately, the decision of where to send your child to college is one that requires thorough research and thoughtful consideration. Ask the tough questions about the resources available, and don’t shy away from digging into the details. In my experience, being a wise consumer of higher education safety information can make all the difference in ensuring that your child is not just educated, but protected.

Campus safety is a partnership—between the institution, the student, and the family. It’s about preparing your child not just academically, but also emotionally and physically, for the challenges they’ll face. And it’s about making sure that, if the worst happens, they’ll have the support they need to get through it.

Maureen Rush gave 27 years of service to the Penn and West Philadelphia Communities, retiring as Vice President for Public Safety/Superintendent of the Penn Police in 2021. She is now Principal of The Rush Group, LLC, Safety and Security Consultants, President of the Philadelphia Police Foundation, Vice Chair of the Philadelphia Police Athletic League, and Director on the Clery Center Board.