Can High Reported Crime Be A Good Sign?
Nearly 1/3 of the colleges we analyzed either did not report crime or reported no incidents of crime. Zero incidents of reported crime may be nice to see, but it does not necessarily mean the school is safer, as it could indicate lax reporting. Higher incidents of reported crime could mean the school is stricter about law enforcement and reporting. Remember, just because incidents are not reported does not mean they do not happen.
On This Page You'll Find:
- Overall Crime and Safety
- On-Campus Crime and Safety
- Boone Campus Neighborhood Crime and Safety
- Off-Campus (Appalachian State Affiliated) Crime and Safety
Overall Crime Stats: 538 Incidents Reported
Appalachian State University reported 538 safety-related incidents involving students on or near campus or other Appalachian State affiliated properties in 2016. Of the 2,795 colleges and universities that reported crime and safety data, 2,632 of them reported fewer incidents than this.
Based on a student body of 17,932 that works out to about 30.00 reports per thousand students. In 2016, 2,040 colleges and universities reported fewer incidents per thousand students than did Appalachian State.
Reported Incidents by Category
Crime and safety incidents fall into four broad categories. Disciplinary actions represented 47.2% of all incidents. Arrests related to possession represented 48.3% of all incidents. Violence against women represented 0.9% of all incidents. Arrests for major crimes represented 3.5% of all incidents.
Reported Incidents by Location
90.1% of all incidents occurred on-campus. 7.6% of all incidents occurred in the Boone neighborhood surrounding the campus. 2.2% of all incidents occurred off campus but while on school affiliated property.
On-Campus Crime Stats: 485 Incidents Reported
Appalachian State University reported 485 safety-related incidents involving students while on campus in 2016. Of the 2,795 colleges and universities that reported crime and safety data, 2,623 of them reported fewer incidents than this.
Based on a student body of 17,932 that works out to about 27.05 reports per thousand students. In 2016, 2,084 colleges and universities reported fewer incidents per thousand students than did Appalachian State.
Reported Incidents by Category
Disciplinary actions represented 52.4% of all on-campus incidents. Arrests related to possession represented 43.1% of all on-campus incidents. Violence against women represented 1.0% of all on-campus incidents. Arrests for major crimes represented 3.5% of all on-campus incidents.
Boone Neighborhood Crime Stats: 41 Incidents Reported
Appalachian State University reported 41 safety-related incidents involving students while on Boone public property near campus in 2016. Of the 2,795 colleges and universities that reported crime and safety data, 2,691 of them reported fewer incidents than this.
Based on a student body of 17,932 that works out to about 2.29 reports per thousand students. In 2016, 2,368 colleges and universities reported fewer incidents per thousand students than did Appalachian State.
Reported Incidents by Category
Disciplinary actions represented none of all campus neighborhood incidents. Arrests related to possession represented 100.0% of all campus neighborhood incidents. Violence against women represented none of all campus neighborhood incidents. Arrests for major crimes represented none of all campus neighborhood incidents.
Appalachian State Affiliated (off campus) Crime Stats: 12 Incidents Reported
Appalachian State University reported 12 safety-related incidents involving students while off campus but still on property owned or controlled by the school in 2016. Of the 1,470 colleges and universities that reported crime and safety data, 1,277 of them reported fewer incidents than this.
Based on a student body of 17,932 that works out to about 0.67 reports per thousand students. In 2016, 1,085 colleges and universities reported fewer incidents per thousand students than did Appalachian State.
Reported Incidents by Category
Disciplinary actions represented none of all off-campus incidents. Arrests related to possession represented 83.3% of all off-campus incidents. Violence against women represented none of all off-campus incidents. Arrests for major crimes represented 16.7% of all off-campus incidents.
Important Questions to Ask About Safety
- Even in low-crime areas, students still run the risk of encountering violence and unsafe situations. What kind of policies does Appalachian State have in place to protect students or help students who are victims of crimes?
- How secure are the dorm rooms and other buildings? Would a break in be easy for an intruder?
- What kind of punishments or penalties are in place for students accused of or convicted of crimes?
- One way a student may feel more comfortable might be to take a self-defense or safety class. Are there classes like this offered at Appalachian State?
