Rider University Streamlines Renters Insurance with GradGuard Integration
Renters insurance isn’t new at Rider University, but how it's offered has changed significantly. For years, students were simply handed brochures about renters insurance during orientation, resulting in minimal participation. Thus, Rider has paid for the majority of the cost of student-caused damages over the years, impacting other areas of an institution's budget and resources.
"Money for students who have had damages either through floods, fires, things going missing,” Roberta Butler, Associate Dean of Residence Life, said.
Butler knew there had to be a better way. When she saw GradGuard integrated into Rider’s StarRez housing portal, she explored a partnership and quickly saw the benefits of its embedded, active-choice offer.
Rider soft-launched GradGuard’s program, even though it wasn’t yet fully embedded in the housing application. Despite the limited rollout, Rider saw a 50x increase in students opting for renters insurance compared to the previous semester, with a different provider. The offer was integrated the following semester within the housing portal.
"Integration has been a game-changer in terms of the number of students that have signed up," Butler said.
Some parents did not know Rider previously offered renters insurance, but with GradGuard, it's clear the protection is optional.
"We are reminding them that renters insurance has always been a thing for us," Butler said. "The company that we're using, and the way that we're providing students with the information, is changing."
Butler appreciated that GradGuard’s setup was fast, seamless, and required no additional work from staff. Since partnering with GradGuard, Rider has seen fewer out-of-pocket costs for student-related damages and more peace of mind for everyone involved.
BOTTOM LINE
With no cost to the university and simple integration into existing software, more students at Rider are protected with renters insurance, saving time, money, and stress across the board.
“Anybody who is worried about the time it'll take to do integration -- that's not a worry. It's a smooth process, and it's fast, quick, and easy,” Butler said.
GradGuard Renters Insurance Program promotes financial literacy by helping schools disclose resident liability for damages they may cause & providing an active choice for residents to protect themselves.
