Editor's note: This information first appearedon iii.org and is adapted and reprinted herewith their permission.

With computers, TVs, printers, PDAs and MP3 players beingshipped off to school, it is more important than ever that studentsand their parents purchase the appropriate insuranceprotection.

Theft can be a major concern on college campuses; according toU.S. Department of Education there were about 40,000 thefts in2006. And campus fires are on the rise with a dramatic increasefrom a low of 1,800 fires in 1998 to 3,300 fires in 2005, accordingto the Consumer Product SafetyCommission (CPSC).

Personal possessions

For students who live in a dorm, most personal possessions arecovered under their parents' homeowners or renters insurancepolicies. However, some home insurance policies may limit theamount of insurance for off-premises belongings to 10% of the totalamount of coverage for personal possessions. This means that if theparents have $70,000 worth of insurance for their belongings, only$7,000 would be applicable to possessions in the dorm. Not allinsurers impose this type of limit, so you should check with youragent or insurance company representative.

[Related: The 5 insurance facts that all college-boundstudents need to know]

Expensive computer and electronic equipment and items such asjewelry may also be subject to coverage limits under a standardhomeowners policy. If the limits are too low, parents may considerbuying a special personal property floater or an endorsement forthese items. There are also stand-alone insurance policies forcomputers and cell phones.

Students and/or their parents may also want to considerpurchasing a stand-alone policy specifically designed for studentsliving away at college. This can be an economical way to provideadditional insurance coverage for a variety of disasters.

Students who live off campus are likely not covered by theirparents' homeowners policy and may need to purchase their ownrenters insurance policy. Parents should consult their insuranceagent or company representative to see if their homeowners orrenters policy extends to off-campus living situations.

Keep reading to get more recommendations from the I.I.I. forstudents going off to college.

Reginald Dawson studies in his dorm room at North CarolinaState University in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

For students going off to college, the I.I.I. recommends thefollowing:

• Leave valuables at home if possible—While itmay be necessary to take a computer or sports equipment to campus,other expensive items, such as valuable jewelry, luxury watches orcostly electronics, should be left behind or kept in a local safetydeposit box.
• Create a "dorm inventory"—Before leaving home,students should make a detailed inventory of all the items they aretaking with them, and revise it every year. Having an up-to-dateinventory will help get insurance claims settled faster in theevent of theft, fire or other types of disasters. For an easy wayto put together an inventory, use the I.I.I.'s free Home Inventory Software.
• Engrave electronics—Engrave electronic itemssuch as computers, televisions and portable devices like iPods withyour name or other identifying information that can help policetrack the stolen articles.

[Related: 5 key truths about renters' insurance and collegestudents]

Guard against theft

The I.I.I. offers the following advice to guard against theft ofyour personal belongings on campus:

• Always lock your dorm room door and keep your keys with you atall times, even if you leave briefly. And, not just at night—mostdorm thefts occur during the day. Insist your roommates do thesame.
• Don't leave belongings unattended on campus. Whether you are inclass, the library, the dining hall or other public areas, keepbook bags, purses and laptops with you at all times. These are theprimary areas where property theft occurs.
• Buy a laptop security cable and use it. A combination lock thatneeds decoding may be just enough to dissuade a thief.
• Most campus fires are cooking related so be careful about thetypes of hot plates or microwaves you to bring to school, and howyou use them.

Find best auto insurance rate

In the event a student is planning to have a car on campus,choose a safe, reliable vehicle and do some comparison shopping tofind the best auto insurance rate. You should also check with yourown insurance company as it may offer a multi-policy discount. Ifyou decide to keep the student's car at home, be sure to contactyour auto insurance company, as many insurers will give discountsfor students who are at least 100 miles away from home and livingat school.