How to deal with an emergency

Receiving an urgent phone call about your student is every parent’s nightmare. Make sure you're prepared to help.

Campus emergencies

If something serious happens on campus, students will be informed by an emergency alert via e-mail, phone call or text message, as well as by their residence assistants if they’re in a residence hall. If an emergency occurs, look to the IU Campus Emergency Site, at http://emergency.service.indiana.edu or call 1-877-482-5486 for more information. Or check idsnews.com for breaking news.

You can also sign up for IU emergency calls or text messages. Have your student visit www.iub.edu/~prepare and follow the IU-Notify link. There, they’ll be able to enter your phone number, as well as their own, to receive messages about any emergency situations on campus.

Hospitalizations or health care

If your child is seriously ill, there are places on campus and around town where they can see a doctor. The IU Health Center is located on the corner of 10th Street and Jordan Avenue The Bloomington Hospital is located right off of campus on West 2nd St.

Counseling

Mental health is always a concern around college campuses. If your student comes to you about problems with depression, there are a few campus resources that can help immediately. If your son or daughter needs someone to talk to right away, or if you just need some advice on how to talk with them, call the health center’s Counseling and Psychological Services to speak with a counselor. 

Run-ins with the law

People make mistakes, and young people tend to make them more frequently than their parents would like. If your student ever has a problem with the police, there are a few resources that might be helpful.
Know that everyone arrested by the IU Police Department is transported to the Monroe County Jail, 301 N. College Ave. Call the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department for information on the release of anyone from the jail.
Also, have the phone number for your student’s resident assistant or residence hall handy in case you need to get in touch with someone there. If you don’t have time to find the list of IU phone numbers try the IU Call Center at 812-855-IUIU, a 24-hour telephone service that will direct you to any office or building on campus. 

Stolen property

If something is stolen from your student’s dorm room, there isn’t much that can be done. Of course, your student should report the theft to IUPD and the resident assistant on their floor. But, there are ways to help make the impact of theft lighter, if you plan ahead. If you read the fine print, you’ll notice that IU is not responsible for replacing your student’s property if damaged or stolen, even in the event of a fire. It might be a good idea to look into renter’s insurance, if you’d like to be on the safe side. Call your insurance dealer to find out more.