From University Safety, here are a few conversations we encourage you to have with your student.

Ask if they have Bear Shield. Rather than asking, “Are you being safe?” try asking if they have downloaded the Bear Shield app and know how to use it.

Bear Shield puts important safety resources right on their phone, including quick access to University Safety. Encourage them to download it before they ever need it. MSU Safety Tools | Powered by 911Cellular

Talk about securing their stuff. College students are busy, and sometimes locking a door, vehicle, bicycle, or e-scooter feels unnecessary when they are “only going to be gone for a minute.” Unfortunately, a minute can be enough. If your student has a bicycle or e-scooter on campus, encourage them to register it with University Safety and use a good U-lock rather than a cable lock.

Talk about nights out downtown. Springfield’s downtown entertainment district is close to campus and is a popular destination for many college students. If your student chooses to go downtown, it is a good opportunity to have a conversation about making smart choices and looking out for one another.

Encourage your student to go with people they know and trust and, just as importantly, come home with those friends. They should have a plan before going out, know how everyone is getting home, and avoid leaving a friend behind.

Students should remain aware of their surroundings, keep track of their phone and other belongings, and never accept a drink they did not see prepared or leave a drink unattended. Alcohol can also affect judgment and awareness. Talk with your student about looking out for friends who may have had too much to drink and getting help when needed.

Most importantly, they should never drive—or get into a vehicle with someone who has been drinking. Having a safe transportation plan before the evening begins is much easier than trying to make that decision at the end of the night.

A simple family message can go a long way: Have fun, make good decisions, take care of your friends, and make sure everyone gets home safely.

Remind them that it’s okay to call for help. Students sometimes hesitate to contact University Safety because they aren’t sure whether a situation is “serious enough.” We would much rather receive a call and determine that everything is okay than have someone ignore something that could become a problem. If something doesn’t look or feel right, encourage your student to contact us.

Keep the conversation going. One of the best safety resources your student has may be you. You know your student. During those phone calls home, listen for more than updates about classes and grades. Ask about their friends, activities, roommate, and how they are adjusting. Sometimes a simple conversation gives a student the opportunity to talk about something they might not otherwise bring up.

And family members, here’s one more piece of advice: give them room to figure some things out. College is where students develop independence, solve problems, make mistakes, and learn from them. You don’t have to solve every problem—but you can remind them that they have people at home and at Missouri State who are ready to help when they need it.

From all of us at University Safety, thank you for being our partners in helping keep our Bears safe.

Be Safe and Go Bears!