The University of San Francisco Supports Student Success With a Renters Insurance Program
The University of San Francisco (USFCA), a private Jesuit university in the heart of the city, partnered with GradGuard to offer renters insurance to its students, a move that reflects the school's commitment to holistic student care.
Candace Torrey, Associate Director for Housing Administration, previously worked with GradGuard while she was at the University of San Diego, where she recalls a sprinkler incident caused extensive water damage.
"That experience showed me how necessary this program is on campus," said Torrey. “Students and families really appreciate it.”
USFCA has since integrated GradGuard Renters Insurance Program directly into the housing application through StarRez, making it simple for students to sign up. Renters insurance is now an expectation for students living on campus.
"Sometimes, renters insurance sounds really complicated and dense and hard to understand," Torrey said. "GradGuard has always been super approachable, supportive, and very customer-service oriented in how they talk to students, staff, and parents, which I think our families feel, too."
GradGuard is more than just an optional student renters insurance benefit, there's also an educational component. When students are presented with the option to purchase renters insurance for their belongings and residence hall, they're made aware that the school doesn't pay for stolen or damaged student items.They acknowledge their understanding of the risks of living on or off-campus and that they had the opportunity to purchase renters insurance.
Renters insurance is an expectation of living on campus at USFCA. The slight shift made a big difference in making more students and parents consider renters insurance, according to Torrey.
“We’re as safe as we can be in a city, but we’re still in a major city,” Torrey explained. “This gives families peace of mind that we’re thinking of all aspects of the student experience.”
BOTTOM LINE
Administrators at partner schools don’t have to be insurance experts when offering renters insurance to students. The integrated offer pops up while students are making their housing selection, making it easy to protect themselves and their belongings.
"It's one less thing you have to worry about because you're offering it as an option for them. And on a staffing side, it's such an easy thing,” Torrey 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.
