There are many life events that can disrupt a student’s college education, but none more severe than the loss of a parent. Given the severity of such a disruption, it is startling how...
Read More
GRADGUARD IS AN AUTHORITY ON PROTECTING THE INVESTMENT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES MAKE IN HIGHER EDUCATION
We invite you to join us in advancing our mission to promote greater student success by mitigating the risks that may impact their investment in a higher education.
More than 400 colleges and universities trust GradGuard to protect their students and institutions through our exclusive tuition and renters insurance programs.
WE AIM TO SHARE INSIGHTS & BEST PRACTICES USED BY INSTITUTIONS TO SUPPORT STUDENT SUCCESS
We connect the dots between disparate data points & research studies.
We showcase best practices and trends used to mitigate risks.
We design solutions that benefit students and enable schools to protect and attract students.
College Renters Insurance
If your school wants to avoid difficult collections issues from student caused damage or doesn't replace stolen or damaged property, GradGuard's exclusive college renters insurance program is designed for you.
College Tuition Insurance
If your school wants to reduce the cost of student withdrawals or doesn't provide 100% refunds to students due to illness, injuries & more, GradGuard's exclusive college tuition insurance program is designed for you.
Topics
Stay up to date
By GradGuard,
May 30, 2019
Student Health Trends: Student Medical Conditions Continue to Grow & Impact Withdrawals
Today GradGuard is attending the American College Health Association's annual conference in Denver. It is a useful reminder of the thousands of dedicated professionals who address the...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
November 9, 2020
Does Your Campus Provide 100% Refunds?
Colleges and universities nationwide are continuing to face challenges brought on by the pandemic. But one of the biggest issues that existed before Covid-19, and will surely exist long...
Read More
By GradGuard,
August 4, 2015
The Cost of Medical Withdrawals
Though student medical withdrawals are infrequent, they appear to be a growing concern for institutions and the families they serve. A 2015 survey of college officials estimated that 41%...
Read More
By John Fees,
July 18, 2018
Testimonial - "Tuition Insurance Was Such A Lifesaver"
The best way to understand the value of GradGuard's tuition insurance to schools and college families is to hear from a customer who enrolled in the program.
Read More
By John Fees,
June 2, 2017
Protecting International Students
This is a big week for professionals who serve international students.
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 29, 2020
National Insurance Awareness Day: Know the Risks of College Life
Insurance is often one of those things we forget about until we need it. June 28 is National Insurance Awareness Day, and it's a good time to evaluate the risks of college life.
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
October 12, 2020
School Spotlight: University of St. Thomas Offers Tuition Insurance
It's not uncommon for higher education staff to find themselves inundated with appeals for medical withdrawals. It's a burdensome process that's also difficult on students and families. In...
Read More
By GradGuard,
June 27, 2017
New College Insurance Search Tool Makes It Easy for Parents to Protect Their Students and Investment
Paying for college can be a challenge but thanks to a new innovative college search tool providing valuable protection for your college student is easy as ever. The average published...
Read MoreTuition insurance exists to provide a refund for a covered medical withdrawal when colleges and universities don't. The best way for college students, families, and school officials to...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
July 13, 2020
Inside Higher Ed Showcases Growing Interest in Tuition Insurance
The Coronavirus pandemic has created a massive disruption in higher education and brought greater attention to the risks of investing in college. GradGuard's tuition insurance is the most...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
July 6, 2020
Forbes Spotlights Value of Tuition Insurance
The impact of the Coronavirus on the operations of colleges and universities has focused attention by students and families on the refund policies of schools. With families investing more...
Read More
By GradGuard,
April 27, 2018
2018 PDG Bursars Conference Presentation - Decision Design & College Confidence
GradGuard was pleased to participate in a panel discussion at this week PDG Bursar 2018 Conference on the topic of The College Confidence Index and Transparency: Helping Students and...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 4, 2018
Reducing the Cost of College Student Withdrawals
If you are like many college and university officials, you are facing a growing number of student withdrawals. Student withdrawals are a costly event for everyone. Institutions depend...
Read More
By GradGuard,
September 18, 2017
Webinar - Transparency - Helping Students and Families Take Informed Action
Please join Professional Development Group's education series for a webinar led by John Fees, co-founder of GradGuard and Craig Lockwood, of Tuition Management Systems as they discuss the...
Read More
By John Fees,
May 5, 2017
Taking Tuition Insurance to the Next Level
We are very pleased to be working with Allianz Global Assistance to help take tuition insurance to the next level. Very pleased to share this public announcement. Thanks to our...
Read More
By John Fees,
May 18, 2015
Impact of Student Financial Services Policies & Procedures Report by NACUBO
The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) recently published the first update to its Student Financial Services Policies and Procedures Report since...
Read More
By GradGuard,
April 28, 2015
Common Practices in Managing College Tuition Refunds & Disclosures
We believe it is vital to understand the common practices of colleges and universities, which is why each year we seek to sponsor research on important topics of concern to both...
Read More
By GradGuard,
November 5, 2018
2018 PDG Student Financial Services Conference Presentation
GradGuard is pleased to participate in a panel discussion at today's PDG Student Loan 2018 Conference. John Fees, co-founder of GradGuard and Paige Lee from Allianz Global Assistance will...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 13, 2018
2018 NACUBO SFS - Tuition Refunds & More
Today it was my pleasure to join Mike Reynolds of Auburn University to present at the annual NACUBO Student Financial Services conference. It is always good to share the stage with a...
Read More
By John Fees,
May 2, 2017
Student Health & Helping to Reduce the Growing Cost of Student Withdrawals with GradGuard Tuition Insurance
GradGuard's mission is to help protect the investment student's and their families make in a higher education. We aim publish research and bring attention to trends of vital interests to...
Read More
By John Fees,
April 24, 2017
2017 Trends & Topics for Student Financial Services
Over the years of working with more than 200 colleges and universities, we have learned that there are many higher education...
Read More
By John Fees,
June 9, 2016
Growing Cost of Student Withdrawals
As colleges and universities conclude the Spring term and prepare for a new academic year, it is worthwhile to pause to evaluate the cost of student withdrawals on your campus. Clearly...
Read More
By GradGuard,
July 30, 2015
Tuition Refund Policy Disclosure Process
As students return to campus for the start of college, we like to remind our college and university partners to recommit to disclosing their refund policies to each student. A 2014 survey...
Read More
By John Fees,
July 16, 2015
Tuition Payment Plan Protection
According to the NACUBO SFS report, as of 2013 95% of institutions surveyed offered tuition payment plans.
Read More
By John Fees,
June 24, 2019
Forbes: The Growth in Tuition Insurance
Forbes Magazine is unique in not only publishing news regarding business and the economy, but also for providing a forum for voices to advance ideas through thoughtful columns. This...
Read More
By GradGuard,
January 30, 2018
Education Dive Webinar on Growing Confidence of Students & Families
The growth in medical events that can disrupt a students education is a concern for everyone committed to increasing college completion. The data in the chart below demonstrates the trends...
Read More
By GradGuard,
November 14, 2016
Reducing the Cost of Withdrawals
If you are like many college and university officials, you are facing a growing number of student withdrawals. Student withdrawals are a costly event for everyone. Institutions depend...
Read More
By John Fees,
July 25, 2016
NACUBO Annual Meeting - Ensuring Student Success
By John Fees,
March 22, 2016
Insights from the 2016 NACUBO Student Financial Services Conference
This started as a simple post to share some insights from the 2016 NACUBO Student Financial Services Conference, held last week in Memphis, TN.
Read More
By John Fees,
November 19, 2018
More Evidence - Adoption of Tuition Insurance by Schools Continues to Grow
2018 has been a milestone year for GradGuard.
Read More
By John Fees,
April 18, 2018
College Confidence & More + Bursars 2018
There are several gatherings of higher education officials that I find to be filled with essential truths.
Read More
By John Fees,
November 8, 2017
Helping to Reduce the Growing Cost of Student Withdrawals with GradGuard
GradGuard's mission is to help protect the investment student's and their families make in a higher education. We aim publish research and bring attention to trends of vital interests to...
Read More
By GradGuard,
September 29, 2017
"Look Right" - Helping Students and Families Take Informed Action Webinar
Have you ever noticed that in life - easy stuff get's done. Making it easy for students to make good decisions is a cornerstone of a well-designed education experience. For instance, p...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 13, 2017
45% of Schools Surveyed Report an Increase in Student Medical Withdrawals
The 2017 Survey on Student Withdawals & Refunds has revealed that nearly half of schools survyed report an increase in student medical withdrawals.
Read More
By GradGuard,
September 22, 2016
Professional Development Group Webinar On Best Practices for Disclosing & Managing Tuition Refunds
Every year, unexpected events happen that can often disrupt a student's education...and when they do, GradGuard's Tuition Protection Plan can help pay for the potential financial loss...
Read More
By GradGuard,
July 13, 2016
Do you wish you could provide 100% refunds for students?
Every year, unexpected events happen that can often disrupt a student's education...and when they do, GradGuard's tuition insurance can help pay for the potential financial loss experienced...
Read More
By GradGuard,
May 4, 2016
Does your campus provide 100% refunds?
If your campus does not provide 100% refunds for medical withdrawals, GradGuard recommends that your institution provide notice to each student of your refund policy and also provide the...
Read More
By GradGuard,
March 6, 2017
Student Housing Leader Joins GradGuard, an Authority at Designing and Implementing Student Benefits Programs
GradGuard, an authority at designing and implementing student benefit programs that help schools to attract and retain students, is pleased to announce that Wimer Alberto, Assistant...
Read More
By John Fees,
May 25, 2017
Decision Design in Education - Make It Easy
Have you ever noticed that in life - easy stuff get's done. Making it easy for students to make good decisions is a cornerstone of a well-designed education. For instance, placing a...
Read More
By GradGuard,
August 1, 2019
Students Remain Vulnerable to Losses from Campus Fires & Crime
Growth in campus fires and crimes confirm the value of GradGuard's renters insurance for college students.
Read More
By GradGuard,
November 19, 2015
FEMA Report: Campus Fire Fatalities 2000 - 2015
The United States Department of Fire Administration published a useful report titled "Campus Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings" detailing the factors that are leading to the...
Read More
By GradGuard,
February 12, 2020
70% Growth in Medical Withdrawals Reported in National Survey
GradGuard is pleased to support the ongoing research into the "Trends and Best Practices for Managing Student Withdrawals & Tuition Refunds."
Read More
By John Fees,
December 21, 2015
Controversy & Campus Reports on Clery Data
Kelly Field wrote in the November 25, 2015 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education an important article (“How Much Can Campus-Crime Reports Tell Us About Sexual Assault?”) on what campus...
Read More
By John Fees,
July 18, 2018
Testimonial - "Tuition Insurance Was Such A Lifesaver"
The best way to understand the value of GradGuard's tuition insurance to schools and college families is to hear from a customer who enrolled in the program.
Read More
By John Fees,
June 2, 2017
Protecting International Students
This is a big week for professionals who serve international students.
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 2, 2020
What Housing and Residential Life Officers Need to Know About Renters Insurance
More colleges and universities than ever are implementing programs to reduce the risk to students and families of investing in college. When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March,...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 20, 2018
URMIA - The Case for Student Renters Insurance
I shared this post recently with for the March edition of URMIA Insights - (University Risk Management and Insurance Association). The message, however, is important for other leaders in...
Read More
By GradGuard,
July 13, 2015
Utilizing Student Benefits to Attract, Retain, and Protect Students
Last week we delivered a show-case presentation with leaders in higher education enrollment management at the RuffaloNoelLevitz - 2015 National Conference on Student Recruitment, Marketing,...
Read More
By John Fees,
January 7, 2015
5 Essential Questions for Higher Ed in 2015
By GradGuard,
April 27, 2018
2018 PDG Bursars Conference Presentation - Decision Design & College Confidence
GradGuard was pleased to participate in a panel discussion at this week PDG Bursar 2018 Conference on the topic of The College Confidence Index and Transparency: Helping Students and...
Read More
By GradGuard,
September 18, 2017
Webinar - Transparency - Helping Students and Families Take Informed Action
Please join Professional Development Group's education series for a webinar led by John Fees, co-founder of GradGuard and Craig Lockwood, of Tuition Management Systems as they discuss the...
Read More
By John Fees,
December 15, 2014
The Real Issue: Failing to Graduate Is Costly
David Leonhardt is the editor of Upshot at the New York Times and posted a useful article titled The Reality of Student Debt Is Different From the Clichés. It reminds me of the challenges...
Read More
By GradGuard,
November 5, 2018
2018 PDG Student Financial Services Conference Presentation
GradGuard is pleased to participate in a panel discussion at today's PDG Student Loan 2018 Conference. John Fees, co-founder of GradGuard and Paige Lee from Allianz Global Assistance will...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 13, 2018
2018 NACUBO SFS - Tuition Refunds & More
Today it was my pleasure to join Mike Reynolds of Auburn University to present at the annual NACUBO Student Financial Services conference. It is always good to share the stage with a...
Read More
By John Fees,
April 24, 2017
2017 Trends & Topics for Student Financial Services
Over the years of working with more than 200 colleges and universities, we have learned that there are many higher education...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 19, 2020
Webinar: 2020 Student Housing Operations Research Study
There is no doubt the Coronavirus has deeply disrupted the student housing experience and new research demonstrates the vital role of leaders within student housing operations.
Read More
By GradGuard,
January 27, 2020
Webinar: 70% Growth in Medical Withdrawals Reported in National Survey
If your college or university is like the 70% of institution's who recently completed a national survey, your campus is seeing a rapid growth in student medical withdrawals.
Read More
By GradGuard,
December 15, 2015
Renters Insurance Discussion within ACUHOI
It was great to see ACUHOI discussion regarding the value of renters insurance in their message boards / forums. These are really useful discussions and it is great to see the variety of...
Read More
By GradGuard,
January 31, 2020
Top 7 Reasons to Adopt a College Renters Protection Program
The College Board indicates that more than 1,237 institutions now guarantee student housing for all freshmen with many institutions requiring students to live on campus. This requirement...
Read More
By John Fees,
September 5, 2018
2018 Campus Safety Magazine Article
This article appeared first in the August 2018 Campus Safety Magazine. New approaches to renters insurance programs are helping protect students and colleges from common risks, such as fire...
Read More
By GradGuard,
September 29, 2017
"Look Right" - Helping Students and Families Take Informed Action Webinar
Have you ever noticed that in life - easy stuff get's done. Making it easy for students to make good decisions is a cornerstone of a well-designed education experience. For instance, p...
Read More
By John Fees,
November 2, 2016
The Biggest Crisis in Higher Ed Isn't Student Debt, It's Students Who Don't Graduate
This is a follow-on to a LinkedIn post I created in 2014 and Titled: The Real Issue: Failing to Graduate is Costly. The statement remains even truer today. The National Center for Education...
Read More
By GradGuard,
October 2, 2015
Adopting a Preferred Renters Insurance Program
The College Board indicates that more than 1,237 institutions now guarantee student housing for all freshmen with many institutions requiring students to live on campus. This requirement...
Read More
By GradGuard,
June 22, 2015
Trends & Best Practices in Implementing Renters Liability & Protection Programs
Requiring students to live on campus has many benefits, but it also creates an often unforeseen risk for students and their families. In fact, published research supports this requirement...
Read More
By GradGuard,
May 30, 2019
Student Health Trends: Student Medical Conditions Continue to Grow & Impact Withdrawals
Today GradGuard is attending the American College Health Association's annual conference in Denver. It is a useful reminder of the thousands of dedicated professionals who address the...
Read More
By GradGuard,
February 12, 2020
70% Growth in Medical Withdrawals Reported in National Survey
GradGuard is pleased to support the ongoing research into the "Trends and Best Practices for Managing Student Withdrawals & Tuition Refunds."
Read More
By GradGuard,
May 1, 2020
Medical conditions, not just COVID-19, create financial losses for students & schools
The Coronavirus crisis is upending normal life as we know it, forcing millions of college students across the country to move to online-only learning. Multiple news articles about how...
Read More
By GradGuard,
April 23, 2020
Coronavirus Pandemic Spurs Confusion Over College Refunds
The Coronavirus crisis has upended normal life as we know it. Over the past several weeks, schools nationwide have shifted to online-only instruction. With the change in instruction,...
Read More
By GradGuard,
August 4, 2015
The Cost of Medical Withdrawals
Though student medical withdrawals are infrequent, they appear to be a growing concern for institutions and the families they serve. A 2015 survey of college officials estimated that 41%...
Read More
By John Fees,
July 18, 2018
Testimonial - "Tuition Insurance Was Such A Lifesaver"
The best way to understand the value of GradGuard's tuition insurance to schools and college families is to hear from a customer who enrolled in the program.
Read More
By John Fees,
December 18, 2019
Building Insights: Trends In Managing Student Medical Withdrawals & Impact On College Completion
This year GradGuard has engaged HigherEdStudy to complete the research report on 2019 Trends for Managing Student Withdrawals & Tuition Refunds.
Read More
By GradGuard,
June 27, 2017
New College Insurance Search Tool Makes It Easy for Parents to Protect Their Students and Investment
Paying for college can be a challenge but thanks to a new innovative college search tool providing valuable protection for your college student is easy as ever. The average published...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
July 13, 2020
Inside Higher Ed Showcases Growing Interest in Tuition Insurance
The Coronavirus pandemic has created a massive disruption in higher education and brought greater attention to the risks of investing in college. GradGuard's tuition insurance is the most...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 4, 2018
Reducing the Cost of College Student Withdrawals
If you are like many college and university officials, you are facing a growing number of student withdrawals. Student withdrawals are a costly event for everyone. Institutions depend...
Read More
By John Fees,
May 18, 2015
Impact of Student Financial Services Policies & Procedures Report by NACUBO
The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) recently published the first update to its Student Financial Services Policies and Procedures Report since...
Read More
By John Fees,
September 13, 2018
Survey Finds Families Struggle to Navigate FAFSA; Financial Aid Officers are Parents' Top Pick for College Planning Advice
Since Bill Suneson and I founded GradGuard, we have always been focused on providing useful insights to the trends facing higher education.
Read More
By John Fees,
March 13, 2018
2018 NACUBO SFS - Tuition Refunds & More
Today it was my pleasure to join Mike Reynolds of Auburn University to present at the annual NACUBO Student Financial Services conference. It is always good to share the stage with a...
Read More
By John Fees,
June 9, 2016
Growing Cost of Student Withdrawals
As colleges and universities conclude the Spring term and prepare for a new academic year, it is worthwhile to pause to evaluate the cost of student withdrawals on your campus. Clearly...
Read More
By GradGuard,
July 30, 2015
Tuition Refund Policy Disclosure Process
As students return to campus for the start of college, we like to remind our college and university partners to recommit to disclosing their refund policies to each student. A 2014 survey...
Read More
By GradGuard,
January 27, 2020
Webinar: 70% Growth in Medical Withdrawals Reported in National Survey
If your college or university is like the 70% of institution's who recently completed a national survey, your campus is seeing a rapid growth in student medical withdrawals.
Read More
By GradGuard,
January 30, 2018
Education Dive Webinar on Growing Confidence of Students & Families
The growth in medical events that can disrupt a students education is a concern for everyone committed to increasing college completion. The data in the chart below demonstrates the trends...
Read More
By GradGuard,
November 14, 2016
Reducing the Cost of Withdrawals
If you are like many college and university officials, you are facing a growing number of student withdrawals. Student withdrawals are a costly event for everyone. Institutions depend...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 13, 2017
45% of Schools Surveyed Report an Increase in Student Medical Withdrawals
The 2017 Survey on Student Withdawals & Refunds has revealed that nearly half of schools survyed report an increase in student medical withdrawals.
Read More
By GradGuard,
September 22, 2016
Professional Development Group Webinar On Best Practices for Disclosing & Managing Tuition Refunds
Every year, unexpected events happen that can often disrupt a student's education...and when they do, GradGuard's Tuition Protection Plan can help pay for the potential financial loss...
Read More
By GradGuard,
July 13, 2016
Do you wish you could provide 100% refunds for students?
Every year, unexpected events happen that can often disrupt a student's education...and when they do, GradGuard's tuition insurance can help pay for the potential financial loss experienced...
Read More
By GradGuard,
May 4, 2016
Does your campus provide 100% refunds?
If your campus does not provide 100% refunds for medical withdrawals, GradGuard recommends that your institution provide notice to each student of your refund policy and also provide the...
Read More
By John Fees,
January 22, 2015
Who Pays for College When a Parent Dies?
There are many life events that can disrupt a student’s college education, but none more severe than the loss of a parent. Given the severity of such a disruption, it is startling how...
Read More
By GradGuard,
August 1, 2019
Students Remain Vulnerable to Losses from Campus Fires & Crime
Growth in campus fires and crimes confirm the value of GradGuard's renters insurance for college students.
Read More
By GradGuard,
May 1, 2020
Medical conditions, not just COVID-19, create financial losses for students & schools
The Coronavirus crisis is upending normal life as we know it, forcing millions of college students across the country to move to online-only learning. Multiple news articles about how...
Read More
By John Fees,
December 21, 2015
Controversy & Campus Reports on Clery Data
Kelly Field wrote in the November 25, 2015 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education an important article (“How Much Can Campus-Crime Reports Tell Us About Sexual Assault?”) on what campus...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
July 20, 2020
Testimonial: Renter's insurance covered student's stolen laundry
In college, you may hear about a student's bike or a laptop being stolen. But what about laundry?
Read More
By John Fees,
July 18, 2018
Testimonial - "Tuition Insurance Was Such A Lifesaver"
The best way to understand the value of GradGuard's tuition insurance to schools and college families is to hear from a customer who enrolled in the program.
Read More
By John Fees,
June 2, 2017
Protecting International Students
This is a big week for professionals who serve international students.
Read More
By John Fees,
March 20, 2018
URMIA - The Case for Student Renters Insurance
I shared this post recently with for the March edition of URMIA Insights - (University Risk Management and Insurance Association). The message, however, is important for other leaders in...
Read More
By GradGuard,
June 27, 2017
New College Insurance Search Tool Makes It Easy for Parents to Protect Their Students and Investment
Paying for college can be a challenge but thanks to a new innovative college search tool providing valuable protection for your college student is easy as ever. The average published...
Read More
By GradGuard,
July 13, 2015
Utilizing Student Benefits to Attract, Retain, and Protect Students
Last week we delivered a show-case presentation with leaders in higher education enrollment management at the RuffaloNoelLevitz - 2015 National Conference on Student Recruitment, Marketing,...
Read More
By GradGuard,
April 27, 2018
2018 PDG Bursars Conference Presentation - Decision Design & College Confidence
GradGuard was pleased to participate in a panel discussion at this week PDG Bursar 2018 Conference on the topic of The College Confidence Index and Transparency: Helping Students and...
Read More
By GradGuard,
September 18, 2017
Webinar - Transparency - Helping Students and Families Take Informed Action
Please join Professional Development Group's education series for a webinar led by John Fees, co-founder of GradGuard and Craig Lockwood, of Tuition Management Systems as they discuss the...
Read More
By John Fees,
May 5, 2017
Taking Tuition Insurance to the Next Level
We are very pleased to be working with Allianz Global Assistance to help take tuition insurance to the next level. Very pleased to share this public announcement. Thanks to our...
Read More
By John Fees,
December 15, 2014
The Real Issue: Failing to Graduate Is Costly
David Leonhardt is the editor of Upshot at the New York Times and posted a useful article titled The Reality of Student Debt Is Different From the Clichés. It reminds me of the challenges...
Read More
By GradGuard,
November 5, 2018
2018 PDG Student Financial Services Conference Presentation
GradGuard is pleased to participate in a panel discussion at today's PDG Student Loan 2018 Conference. John Fees, co-founder of GradGuard and Paige Lee from Allianz Global Assistance will...
Read More
By John Fees,
June 9, 2016
Growing Cost of Student Withdrawals
As colleges and universities conclude the Spring term and prepare for a new academic year, it is worthwhile to pause to evaluate the cost of student withdrawals on your campus. Clearly...
Read More
By John Fees,
July 16, 2015
Tuition Payment Plan Protection
According to the NACUBO SFS report, as of 2013 95% of institutions surveyed offered tuition payment plans.
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 19, 2020
Webinar: 2020 Student Housing Operations Research Study
There is no doubt the Coronavirus has deeply disrupted the student housing experience and new research demonstrates the vital role of leaders within student housing operations.
Read More
By John Fees,
April 18, 2018
College Confidence & More + Bursars 2018
There are several gatherings of higher education officials that I find to be filled with essential truths.
Read More
By GradGuard,
September 29, 2017
"Look Right" - Helping Students and Families Take Informed Action Webinar
Have you ever noticed that in life - easy stuff get's done. Making it easy for students to make good decisions is a cornerstone of a well-designed education experience. For instance, p...
Read More
By John Fees,
June 19, 2015
Tell Us - What Do You Wish You Knew When You Were 20?
Over the past few years, GradGuard has often shared a terrific book by Tina Seelig, What I Wish I knew When I Was 20.
Read More
By John Fees,
May 25, 2017
Decision Design in Education - Make It Easy
Have you ever noticed that in life - easy stuff get's done. Making it easy for students to make good decisions is a cornerstone of a well-designed education. For instance, placing a...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
November 9, 2020
Does Your Campus Provide 100% Refunds?
Colleges and universities nationwide are continuing to face challenges brought on by the pandemic. But one of the biggest issues that existed before Covid-19, and will surely exist long...
Read More
By GradGuard,
May 1, 2020
Medical conditions, not just COVID-19, create financial losses for students & schools
The Coronavirus crisis is upending normal life as we know it, forcing millions of college students across the country to move to online-only learning. Multiple news articles about how...
Read More
By John Fees,
December 21, 2015
Controversy & Campus Reports on Clery Data
Kelly Field wrote in the November 25, 2015 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education an important article (“How Much Can Campus-Crime Reports Tell Us About Sexual Assault?”) on what campus...
Read More
By GradGuard,
April 23, 2020
Coronavirus Pandemic Spurs Confusion Over College Refunds
The Coronavirus crisis has upended normal life as we know it. Over the past several weeks, schools nationwide have shifted to online-only instruction. With the change in instruction,...
Read More
By GradGuard,
August 4, 2015
The Cost of Medical Withdrawals
Though student medical withdrawals are infrequent, they appear to be a growing concern for institutions and the families they serve. A 2015 survey of college officials estimated that 41%...
Read More
By John Fees,
January 19, 2015
Dr. King's Lessons on Leadership
This weekend, I took the time to reread Dr. Martin Luther King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail that he composed on April 16, 1963. Dr. King's letter addressed themes of social justice and...
Read More
By John Fees,
January 7, 2015
5 Essential Questions for Higher Ed in 2015
By John Fees,
March 4, 2018
Reducing the Cost of College Student Withdrawals
If you are like many college and university officials, you are facing a growing number of student withdrawals. Student withdrawals are a costly event for everyone. Institutions depend...
Read More
By GradGuard,
April 28, 2015
Common Practices in Managing College Tuition Refunds & Disclosures
We believe it is vital to understand the common practices of colleges and universities, which is why each year we seek to sponsor research on important topics of concern to both...
Read More
By John Fees,
December 15, 2014
The Real Issue: Failing to Graduate Is Costly
David Leonhardt is the editor of Upshot at the New York Times and posted a useful article titled The Reality of Student Debt Is Different From the Clichés. It reminds me of the challenges...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 13, 2018
2018 NACUBO SFS - Tuition Refunds & More
Today it was my pleasure to join Mike Reynolds of Auburn University to present at the annual NACUBO Student Financial Services conference. It is always good to share the stage with a...
Read More
By John Fees,
April 24, 2017
2017 Trends & Topics for Student Financial Services
Over the years of working with more than 200 colleges and universities, we have learned that there are many higher education...
Read More
By GradGuard,
July 30, 2015
Tuition Refund Policy Disclosure Process
As students return to campus for the start of college, we like to remind our college and university partners to recommit to disclosing their refund policies to each student. A 2014 survey...
Read More
By GradGuard,
November 14, 2016
Reducing the Cost of Withdrawals
If you are like many college and university officials, you are facing a growing number of student withdrawals. Student withdrawals are a costly event for everyone. Institutions depend...
Read More
By John Fees,
July 25, 2016
NACUBO Annual Meeting - Ensuring Student Success
By John Fees,
March 22, 2016
Insights from the 2016 NACUBO Student Financial Services Conference
This started as a simple post to share some insights from the 2016 NACUBO Student Financial Services Conference, held last week in Memphis, TN.
Read More
By John Fees,
April 18, 2018
College Confidence & More + Bursars 2018
There are several gatherings of higher education officials that I find to be filled with essential truths.
Read More
By GradGuard,
September 22, 2016
Professional Development Group Webinar On Best Practices for Disclosing & Managing Tuition Refunds
Every year, unexpected events happen that can often disrupt a student's education...and when they do, GradGuard's Tuition Protection Plan can help pay for the potential financial loss...
Read More
By GradGuard,
May 4, 2016
Does your campus provide 100% refunds?
If your campus does not provide 100% refunds for medical withdrawals, GradGuard recommends that your institution provide notice to each student of your refund policy and also provide the...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 8, 2016
Data: Increasing College Completion Rates
The National Student Clearinghouse® Research Center™ recently published state specific data regarding college completion rates. The information is valuable to policy makers in general...
Read More
By John Fees,
May 25, 2017
Decision Design in Education - Make It Easy
Have you ever noticed that in life - easy stuff get's done. Making it easy for students to make good decisions is a cornerstone of a well-designed education. For instance, placing a...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
February 11, 2021
School Spotlight: Students at Santa Clara University Learn Adulting Lesson With Renters Insurance
Students learn a lot in college, both in and out of the classroom. It's a time when many young adults learn what it really means to be on their own. No one is there to wake them up for...
Read More
By GradGuard,
May 19, 2020
Survey: 2020 Student Housing Operations Research
Approximately 3 million students nationwide live in housing that is owned and operated by colleges and universities. The COVID-19 crisis dramatically disrupted the student housing...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 2, 2020
What Housing and Residential Life Officers Need to Know About Renters Insurance
More colleges and universities than ever are implementing programs to reduce the risk to students and families of investing in college. When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March,...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 29, 2020
National Insurance Awareness Day: Know the Risks of College Life
Insurance is often one of those things we forget about until we need it. June 28 is National Insurance Awareness Day, and it's a good time to evaluate the risks of college life.
Read More
By John Fees,
March 20, 2018
URMIA - The Case for Student Renters Insurance
I shared this post recently with for the March edition of URMIA Insights - (University Risk Management and Insurance Association). The message, however, is important for other leaders in...
Read More
By GradGuard,
June 27, 2017
New College Insurance Search Tool Makes It Easy for Parents to Protect Their Students and Investment
Paying for college can be a challenge but thanks to a new innovative college search tool providing valuable protection for your college student is easy as ever. The average published...
Read More
By Bill Suneson,
August 24, 2015
Do College Students Need Renters Insurance?
We are often asked by friends and family preparing to send their kids to college about student renters insurance. This is not surprising since many news stories and insurance agents offer...
Read More
By John Fees,
October 11, 2016
ACUHOI - Business Operations Conference
It was wonderful to see so many colleagues last week attending the annual ACUHO-I Business Operations conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. Arizona is home for many of our GradGuard team so...
Read More
By GradGuard,
December 15, 2015
Renters Insurance Discussion within ACUHOI
It was great to see ACUHOI discussion regarding the value of renters insurance in their message boards / forums. These are really useful discussions and it is great to see the variety of...
Read More
By GradGuard,
January 31, 2020
Top 7 Reasons to Adopt a College Renters Protection Program
The College Board indicates that more than 1,237 institutions now guarantee student housing for all freshmen with many institutions requiring students to live on campus. This requirement...
Read More
By John Fees,
September 5, 2018
2018 Campus Safety Magazine Article
This article appeared first in the August 2018 Campus Safety Magazine. New approaches to renters insurance programs are helping protect students and colleges from common risks, such as fire...
Read More
By Steve Fucci,
April 21, 2016
Helping Schools Protect Students
In our work with college and university officials we often hear two topics that are a great concern. Officials are concerned about bad press regarding student crime and campus safety....
Read More
By GradGuard,
October 2, 2015
Adopting a Preferred Renters Insurance Program
The College Board indicates that more than 1,237 institutions now guarantee student housing for all freshmen with many institutions requiring students to live on campus. This requirement...
Read More
By GradGuard,
June 22, 2015
Trends & Best Practices in Implementing Renters Liability & Protection Programs
Requiring students to live on campus has many benefits, but it also creates an often unforeseen risk for students and their families. In fact, published research supports this requirement...
Read MoreOur GradGuard team (Steve Fucci, Wimer Alberto and Jasabel Teston) attended the annual ACUHO-I conference in Toronto. There are many reasons to celebrate and give thanks to this community...
Read More
By John Fees,
January 30, 2019
Trends in On-Campus Safety & Fires
The end of 2018 proved once again that fires within student housing is a chronic and enduring problem. In fact, if 2018 was like prior years, when Clery Act data is finally tabulated it is...
Read More
By John Fees,
October 30, 2018
Campus Fires Continue - GradGuard can help.
In the past few weeks, campus fires in university residence halls have been reported at Mississippi State University, Duke University and University of Oakland.
Read More
By John Fees,
July 26, 2018
Growth in campus fires and crimes confirm the value of renters insurance for college students.
Each year, our GradGuard team makes an effort to update key data regarding campus safety and crime. We review Clery Act reports as well as other sources of data such as the FBI's Uniform...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 31, 2017
2017 New & Improved - College Renters Insurance
I love the spring. The last day of March, however, brings the reality that Major League Baseball spring training is ending and the hot Arizona summer will soon be upon us.
Read More
By GradGuard,
January 23, 2017
Managing Property Losses & Damages from Short Term Residents & Summer Programs
There continues to be a growing interest in how schools manage the risks associated with the management of summer camps & conferences. This is a timely topic and one that GradGuard's...
Read More
By GradGuard,
May 30, 2019
Student Health Trends: Student Medical Conditions Continue to Grow & Impact Withdrawals
Today GradGuard is attending the American College Health Association's annual conference in Denver. It is a useful reminder of the thousands of dedicated professionals who address the...
Read More
By GradGuard,
August 4, 2015
The Cost of Medical Withdrawals
Though student medical withdrawals are infrequent, they appear to be a growing concern for institutions and the families they serve. A 2015 survey of college officials estimated that 41%...
Read More
By John Fees,
July 18, 2018
Testimonial - "Tuition Insurance Was Such A Lifesaver"
The best way to understand the value of GradGuard's tuition insurance to schools and college families is to hear from a customer who enrolled in the program.
Read More
By John Fees,
June 2, 2017
Protecting International Students
This is a big week for professionals who serve international students.
Read More
By GradGuard,
June 27, 2017
New College Insurance Search Tool Makes It Easy for Parents to Protect Their Students and Investment
Paying for college can be a challenge but thanks to a new innovative college search tool providing valuable protection for your college student is easy as ever. The average published...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 4, 2018
Reducing the Cost of College Student Withdrawals
If you are like many college and university officials, you are facing a growing number of student withdrawals. Student withdrawals are a costly event for everyone. Institutions depend...
Read More
By John Fees,
May 5, 2017
Taking Tuition Insurance to the Next Level
We are very pleased to be working with Allianz Global Assistance to help take tuition insurance to the next level. Very pleased to share this public announcement. Thanks to our...
Read More
By John Fees,
May 18, 2015
Impact of Student Financial Services Policies & Procedures Report by NACUBO
The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) recently published the first update to its Student Financial Services Policies and Procedures Report since...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 13, 2018
2018 NACUBO SFS - Tuition Refunds & More
Today it was my pleasure to join Mike Reynolds of Auburn University to present at the annual NACUBO Student Financial Services conference. It is always good to share the stage with a...
Read More
By John Fees,
May 2, 2017
Student Health & Helping to Reduce the Growing Cost of Student Withdrawals with GradGuard Tuition Insurance
GradGuard's mission is to help protect the investment student's and their families make in a higher education. We aim publish research and bring attention to trends of vital interests to...
Read More
By John Fees,
June 9, 2016
Growing Cost of Student Withdrawals
As colleges and universities conclude the Spring term and prepare for a new academic year, it is worthwhile to pause to evaluate the cost of student withdrawals on your campus. Clearly...
Read More
By GradGuard,
July 30, 2015
Tuition Refund Policy Disclosure Process
As students return to campus for the start of college, we like to remind our college and university partners to recommit to disclosing their refund policies to each student. A 2014 survey...
Read More
By GradGuard,
January 30, 2018
Education Dive Webinar on Growing Confidence of Students & Families
The growth in medical events that can disrupt a students education is a concern for everyone committed to increasing college completion. The data in the chart below demonstrates the trends...
Read More
By GradGuard,
November 14, 2016
Reducing the Cost of Withdrawals
If you are like many college and university officials, you are facing a growing number of student withdrawals. Student withdrawals are a costly event for everyone. Institutions depend...
Read More
By John Fees,
November 8, 2017
Helping to Reduce the Growing Cost of Student Withdrawals with GradGuard
GradGuard's mission is to help protect the investment student's and their families make in a higher education. We aim publish research and bring attention to trends of vital interests to...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 13, 2017
45% of Schools Surveyed Report an Increase in Student Medical Withdrawals
The 2017 Survey on Student Withdawals & Refunds has revealed that nearly half of schools survyed report an increase in student medical withdrawals.
Read More
By GradGuard,
September 22, 2016
Professional Development Group Webinar On Best Practices for Disclosing & Managing Tuition Refunds
Every year, unexpected events happen that can often disrupt a student's education...and when they do, GradGuard's Tuition Protection Plan can help pay for the potential financial loss...
Read More
By GradGuard,
July 13, 2016
Do you wish you could provide 100% refunds for students?
Every year, unexpected events happen that can often disrupt a student's education...and when they do, GradGuard's tuition insurance can help pay for the potential financial loss experienced...
Read More
By GradGuard,
May 4, 2016
Does your campus provide 100% refunds?
If your campus does not provide 100% refunds for medical withdrawals, GradGuard recommends that your institution provide notice to each student of your refund policy and also provide the...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
March 22, 2021
Testimonial: Renters Insurance Covered Pipe Burst Damage in Dorm Room
More often than not, college students don't really think about the possibility of their stuff being stolen or damaged while they're at school. Campus can create a safe, bubble-like feeling,...
Read More
By GradGuard,
August 1, 2019
Students Remain Vulnerable to Losses from Campus Fires & Crime
Growth in campus fires and crimes confirm the value of GradGuard's renters insurance for college students.
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
December 21, 2020
5 Things to Know From Off-Campus Student Housing Experts
It's no secret there are some big differences between living on or off campus. For many students, moving off campus can feel like a bigger transition than moving on campus, simply because...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
April 26, 2021
Testimonial: Renters Insurance Covered Dorm Room Theft
When it comes to tuition and renters insurance, students and their families have the biggest advantage when they attend a school that's partnered with GradGuard. Our network of more than...
Read More
By GradGuard,
May 19, 2020
Survey: 2020 Student Housing Operations Research
Approximately 3 million students nationwide live in housing that is owned and operated by colleges and universities. The COVID-19 crisis dramatically disrupted the student housing...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 2, 2020
What Housing and Residential Life Officers Need to Know About Renters Insurance
More colleges and universities than ever are implementing programs to reduce the risk to students and families of investing in college. When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March,...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 20, 2018
URMIA - The Case for Student Renters Insurance
I shared this post recently with for the March edition of URMIA Insights - (University Risk Management and Insurance Association). The message, however, is important for other leaders in...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
September 29, 2020
Assisting Your Frontline Housing Staff
Staff on the frontline often think they're forgotten people until something needs to get done. Between juggling student emergencies and crises, acknowledging their work can go a long way in...
Read More
By John Fees,
April 8, 2019
Leading on-campus renters insurance program now available for off-campus & private student housing.
Student Housing Operators looking to protect their property and increase profitability are smart to consider GradGuard’s off-campus renters insurance program.
Read More
By John Fees,
October 11, 2016
ACUHOI - Business Operations Conference
It was wonderful to see so many colleagues last week attending the annual ACUHO-I Business Operations conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. Arizona is home for many of our GradGuard team so...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 19, 2020
Webinar: 2020 Student Housing Operations Research Study
There is no doubt the Coronavirus has deeply disrupted the student housing experience and new research demonstrates the vital role of leaders within student housing operations.
Read More
By GradGuard,
December 15, 2015
Renters Insurance Discussion within ACUHOI
It was great to see ACUHOI discussion regarding the value of renters insurance in their message boards / forums. These are really useful discussions and it is great to see the variety of...
Read More
By GradGuard,
January 31, 2020
Top 7 Reasons to Adopt a College Renters Protection Program
The College Board indicates that more than 1,237 institutions now guarantee student housing for all freshmen with many institutions requiring students to live on campus. This requirement...
Read More
By John Fees,
September 5, 2018
2018 Campus Safety Magazine Article
This article appeared first in the August 2018 Campus Safety Magazine. New approaches to renters insurance programs are helping protect students and colleges from common risks, such as fire...
Read More
By Steve Fucci,
April 21, 2016
Helping Schools Protect Students
In our work with college and university officials we often hear two topics that are a great concern. Officials are concerned about bad press regarding student crime and campus safety....
Read More
By GradGuard,
February 17, 2021
Meet GradGuard Virtually at SEAHO 2021!
You can catch GradGuard at this year's Southeastern Association of Housing Officers (SEAHO) conference happening Feb. 24-26.
Read MoreOur GradGuard team (Steve Fucci, Wimer Alberto and Jasabel Teston) attended the annual ACUHO-I conference in Toronto. There are many reasons to celebrate and give thanks to this community...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 31, 2017
2017 New & Improved - College Renters Insurance
I love the spring. The last day of March, however, brings the reality that Major League Baseball spring training is ending and the hot Arizona summer will soon be upon us.
Read MoreCollege students have a lot of stuff with them on campus, and they're often expensive items that aren't easily replaced. It's no surprise laptops or bicycles are stolen or damaged from time...
Read More
By John Fees,
May 25, 2017
Decision Design in Education - Make It Easy
Have you ever noticed that in life - easy stuff get's done. Making it easy for students to make good decisions is a cornerstone of a well-designed education. For instance, placing a...
Read More
By GradGuard,
August 1, 2019
Students Remain Vulnerable to Losses from Campus Fires & Crime
Growth in campus fires and crimes confirm the value of GradGuard's renters insurance for college students.
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
July 20, 2020
Testimonial: Renter's insurance covered student's stolen laundry
In college, you may hear about a student's bike or a laptop being stolen. But what about laundry?
Read More
By John Fees,
June 2, 2017
Protecting International Students
This is a big week for professionals who serve international students.
Read More
By GradGuard,
May 19, 2020
Survey: 2020 Student Housing Operations Research
Approximately 3 million students nationwide live in housing that is owned and operated by colleges and universities. The COVID-19 crisis dramatically disrupted the student housing...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 2, 2020
What Housing and Residential Life Officers Need to Know About Renters Insurance
More colleges and universities than ever are implementing programs to reduce the risk to students and families of investing in college. When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March,...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 20, 2018
URMIA - The Case for Student Renters Insurance
I shared this post recently with for the March edition of URMIA Insights - (University Risk Management and Insurance Association). The message, however, is important for other leaders in...
Read More
By GradGuard,
June 27, 2017
New College Insurance Search Tool Makes It Easy for Parents to Protect Their Students and Investment
Paying for college can be a challenge but thanks to a new innovative college search tool providing valuable protection for your college student is easy as ever. The average published...
Read More
By John Fees,
October 11, 2016
ACUHOI - Business Operations Conference
It was wonderful to see so many colleagues last week attending the annual ACUHO-I Business Operations conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. Arizona is home for many of our GradGuard team so...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 19, 2020
Webinar: 2020 Student Housing Operations Research Study
There is no doubt the Coronavirus has deeply disrupted the student housing experience and new research demonstrates the vital role of leaders within student housing operations.
Read More
By John Fees,
September 5, 2018
2018 Campus Safety Magazine Article
This article appeared first in the August 2018 Campus Safety Magazine. New approaches to renters insurance programs are helping protect students and colleges from common risks, such as fire...
Read MoreOur GradGuard team (Steve Fucci, Wimer Alberto and Jasabel Teston) attended the annual ACUHO-I conference in Toronto. There are many reasons to celebrate and give thanks to this community...
Read More
By John Fees,
January 30, 2019
Trends in On-Campus Safety & Fires
The end of 2018 proved once again that fires within student housing is a chronic and enduring problem. In fact, if 2018 was like prior years, when Clery Act data is finally tabulated it is...
Read More
By John Fees,
October 30, 2018
Campus Fires Continue - GradGuard can help.
In the past few weeks, campus fires in university residence halls have been reported at Mississippi State University, Duke University and University of Oakland.
Read More
By John Fees,
July 26, 2018
Growth in campus fires and crimes confirm the value of renters insurance for college students.
Each year, our GradGuard team makes an effort to update key data regarding campus safety and crime. We review Clery Act reports as well as other sources of data such as the FBI's Uniform...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 31, 2017
2017 New & Improved - College Renters Insurance
I love the spring. The last day of March, however, brings the reality that Major League Baseball spring training is ending and the hot Arizona summer will soon be upon us.
Read More
By GradGuard,
January 23, 2017
Managing Property Losses & Damages from Short Term Residents & Summer Programs
There continues to be a growing interest in how schools manage the risks associated with the management of summer camps & conferences. This is a timely topic and one that GradGuard's...
Read More
By John Fees,
January 22, 2015
Who Pays for College When a Parent Dies?
There are many life events that can disrupt a student’s college education, but none more severe than the loss of a parent. Given the severity of such a disruption, it is startling how...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
December 15, 2020
School Spotlight: Wheaton College Massachusetts Sees Benefits of Tuition Insurance
It's been several years since medical appeals were taking a great toll on Wheaton College, when claims for withdrawals were handled internally. A tuition insurance provider would...
Read More
By GradGuard,
August 4, 2015
The Cost of Medical Withdrawals
Though student medical withdrawals are infrequent, they appear to be a growing concern for institutions and the families they serve. A 2015 survey of college officials estimated that 41%...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 20, 2018
URMIA - The Case for Student Renters Insurance
I shared this post recently with for the March edition of URMIA Insights - (University Risk Management and Insurance Association). The message, however, is important for other leaders in...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
November 10, 2020
School Spotlight: How Cal State Monterey Bay Protects Students from Financial Losses
A lot of learning is done in college, in and outside of the classroom. One of the biggest things students learn to do is how to live on their own. Sometimes, living on your own might mean...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
October 12, 2020
School Spotlight: University of St. Thomas Offers Tuition Insurance
It's not uncommon for higher education staff to find themselves inundated with appeals for medical withdrawals. It's a burdensome process that's also difficult on students and families. In...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 4, 2018
Reducing the Cost of College Student Withdrawals
If you are like many college and university officials, you are facing a growing number of student withdrawals. Student withdrawals are a costly event for everyone. Institutions depend...
Read More
By John Fees,
December 15, 2014
The Real Issue: Failing to Graduate Is Costly
David Leonhardt is the editor of Upshot at the New York Times and posted a useful article titled The Reality of Student Debt Is Different From the Clichés. It reminds me of the challenges...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 13, 2018
2018 NACUBO SFS - Tuition Refunds & More
Today it was my pleasure to join Mike Reynolds of Auburn University to present at the annual NACUBO Student Financial Services conference. It is always good to share the stage with a...
Read More
By John Fees,
July 16, 2015
Tuition Payment Plan Protection
According to the NACUBO SFS report, as of 2013 95% of institutions surveyed offered tuition payment plans.
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 19, 2020
Webinar: 2020 Student Housing Operations Research Study
There is no doubt the Coronavirus has deeply disrupted the student housing experience and new research demonstrates the vital role of leaders within student housing operations.
Read More
By GradGuard,
November 14, 2016
Reducing the Cost of Withdrawals
If you are like many college and university officials, you are facing a growing number of student withdrawals. Student withdrawals are a costly event for everyone. Institutions depend...
Read More
By John Fees,
July 25, 2016
NACUBO Annual Meeting - Ensuring Student Success
By John Fees,
March 22, 2016
Insights from the 2016 NACUBO Student Financial Services Conference
This started as a simple post to share some insights from the 2016 NACUBO Student Financial Services Conference, held last week in Memphis, TN.
Read More
By John Fees,
November 2, 2016
The Biggest Crisis in Higher Ed Isn't Student Debt, It's Students Who Don't Graduate
This is a follow-on to a LinkedIn post I created in 2014 and Titled: The Real Issue: Failing to Graduate is Costly. The statement remains even truer today. The National Center for Education...
Read More
By Steve Fucci,
April 21, 2016
Helping Schools Protect Students
In our work with college and university officials we often hear two topics that are a great concern. Officials are concerned about bad press regarding student crime and campus safety....
Read More
By John Fees,
March 8, 2016
Data: Increasing College Completion Rates
The National Student Clearinghouse® Research Center™ recently published state specific data regarding college completion rates. The information is valuable to policy makers in general...
Read More
By GradGuard,
August 1, 2019
Students Remain Vulnerable to Losses from Campus Fires & Crime
Growth in campus fires and crimes confirm the value of GradGuard's renters insurance for college students.
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
October 1, 2020
GradGuard Welcomes More Than 40 New Campus Partners This Summer
There's no doubt this summer has shown how the pandemic continues to create risks and challenges in higher education. Perhaps one of the biggest concerns is the lack of awareness...
Read More
By GradGuard,
February 12, 2020
70% Growth in Medical Withdrawals Reported in National Survey
GradGuard is pleased to support the ongoing research into the "Trends and Best Practices for Managing Student Withdrawals & Tuition Refunds."
Read More
By John Fees,
December 21, 2015
Controversy & Campus Reports on Clery Data
Kelly Field wrote in the November 25, 2015 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education an important article (“How Much Can Campus-Crime Reports Tell Us About Sexual Assault?”) on what campus...
Read More
By John Fees,
July 18, 2018
Testimonial - "Tuition Insurance Was Such A Lifesaver"
The best way to understand the value of GradGuard's tuition insurance to schools and college families is to hear from a customer who enrolled in the program.
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
November 12, 2020
GradGuard Partners with Transact Campus Inc. for Tuition Insurance
GradGuard's list of exclusive integrated campus payment programs continues to expand, with the latest announcement of a partnership with Transact Campus Inc. The joint collaboration with...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 2, 2020
What Housing and Residential Life Officers Need to Know About Renters Insurance
More colleges and universities than ever are implementing programs to reduce the risk to students and families of investing in college. When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March,...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 20, 2018
URMIA - The Case for Student Renters Insurance
I shared this post recently with for the March edition of URMIA Insights - (University Risk Management and Insurance Association). The message, however, is important for other leaders in...
Read More
By GradGuard,
February 24, 2021
GradGuard's Wimer Alberto Talks About Considering Alternate Career Paths on The Meeting After The Meeting Podcast
Everyone should have a "village" with like-minded people that can be a safe and welcoming space. That's the idea behind The Meeting After The Meeting Podcast. The show, which is hosted by...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 13, 2018
2018 NACUBO SFS - Tuition Refunds & More
Today it was my pleasure to join Mike Reynolds of Auburn University to present at the annual NACUBO Student Financial Services conference. It is always good to share the stage with a...
Read More
By GradGuard,
January 27, 2020
Webinar: 70% Growth in Medical Withdrawals Reported in National Survey
If your college or university is like the 70% of institution's who recently completed a national survey, your campus is seeing a rapid growth in student medical withdrawals.
Read More
By John Fees,
July 25, 2016
NACUBO Annual Meeting - Ensuring Student Success
By John Fees,
March 22, 2016
Insights from the 2016 NACUBO Student Financial Services Conference
This started as a simple post to share some insights from the 2016 NACUBO Student Financial Services Conference, held last week in Memphis, TN.
Read More
By John Fees,
March 25, 2019
Growing Collegiate InsurTech Platform Achieves Scale with 300th School Partner
When Bill Suneson and I co-founded GradGuard, we had a shared vision that we could reduce the risk of college by creating relevant insurance programs that were designed to benefit students,...
Read More
By John Fees,
April 18, 2018
College Confidence & More + Bursars 2018
There are several gatherings of higher education officials that I find to be filled with essential truths.
Read More
By GradGuard,
November 23, 2015
Twitter Voices for Higher Education & Safety
Twitter is a vibrant social media channel with colleagues in and around the college and university marketplace. Here are some of my favorite voices within organizations, companies and...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 15, 2021
GradGuard Surpasses 400 College and University Partners
Only provider of tuition protection programs in country providing full refunds to students who medically withdraw from college due to mental health conditions or COVID-19
Read More
By GradGuard,
July 22, 2021
With Mental Health Conditions on the Rise Among College Students, GradGuard Tuition Insurance Provides Viable Options for Families
GradGuard’s student insurance program provides refunds when colleges may not to students who medically withdraw due to mental health conditions and other covered reasons. Phoenix, AZ...
Read More
By GradGuard,
March 6, 2017
Student Housing Leader Joins GradGuard, an Authority at Designing and Implementing Student Benefits Programs
GradGuard, an authority at designing and implementing student benefit programs that help schools to attract and retain students, is pleased to announce that Wimer Alberto, Assistant...
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
April 12, 2022
GradGuard Senior Director Honored with WACUHO's R.W. Gang Award
Wimer Alberto received the award for his dedication, partnership, and contributions to the Western Association of College and University Housing Officers.
Read More
By GradGuard,
August 1, 2019
Students Remain Vulnerable to Losses from Campus Fires & Crime
Growth in campus fires and crimes confirm the value of GradGuard's renters insurance for college students.
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
July 14, 2021
GradGuard Makes it Easy for Off-Campus Housing Managers to Protect Residents and Their Assets
Comprehensive protection programs are now available to help student housing operators protect their residents from the impact of growing mental health crisis, COVID-19 implications, and...
Read More
By GradGuard,
September 14, 2021
GradGuard Launches New Website as College Risks Rise and Adoption of its Innovative Student Programs Soars
Improvements to member experience, performance, and brand identity enable college students and their families to protect their investment from the risks of college life. Phoenix, AZ (...
Read More
By GradGuard,
January 17, 2020
GradGuard expands campus development leadership team to serve its rapidly growing network of colleges and universities
Higher education professional joins GradGuard to make it easy for schools to protect the students and families they serve.Phoenix, Arizona GradGuard, an authority at designing and...
Read More
By John Fees,
April 8, 2019
Leading on-campus renters insurance program now available for off-campus & private student housing.
Student Housing Operators looking to protect their property and increase profitability are smart to consider GradGuard’s off-campus renters insurance program.
Read More
By GradGuard,
June 27, 2017
New College Insurance Search Tool Makes It Easy for Parents to Protect Their Students and Investment
Paying for college can be a challenge but thanks to a new innovative college search tool providing valuable protection for your college student is easy as ever. The average published...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
April 11, 2022
GradGuard Strengthens Student Benefits Programs with Added Epidemic Protection for Tuition Insurance Plans
GradGuard's tuition insurance is the first program to offer nationwide protection for epidemics, including getting sick with COVID-19 – providing a financial safety net when schools don't
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By GradGuard,
June 20, 2019
GradGuard expands campus development team
Student success professional joining GradGuard to make it easy for schools to protect their students.
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By GradGuard,
March 4, 2022
Spring Break 2022: A College Student's Guide to Risks
PHOENIX (March 4, 2022): Nationwide, nearly 20 million college students are preparing to take their midterm exams before heading off to enjoy spring break. With dropping Covid-19 case...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
November 9, 2020
Does Your Campus Provide 100% Refunds?
Colleges and universities nationwide are continuing to face challenges brought on by the pandemic. But one of the biggest issues that existed before Covid-19, and will surely exist long...
Read More
By GradGuard,
May 1, 2020
Medical conditions, not just COVID-19, create financial losses for students & schools
The Coronavirus crisis is upending normal life as we know it, forcing millions of college students across the country to move to online-only learning. Multiple news articles about how...
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By GradGuard,
April 23, 2020
Coronavirus Pandemic Spurs Confusion Over College Refunds
The Coronavirus crisis has upended normal life as we know it. Over the past several weeks, schools nationwide have shifted to online-only instruction. With the change in instruction,...
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By John Fees,
July 18, 2018
Testimonial - "Tuition Insurance Was Such A Lifesaver"
The best way to understand the value of GradGuard's tuition insurance to schools and college families is to hear from a customer who enrolled in the program.
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By GradGuard,
April 27, 2018
2018 PDG Bursars Conference Presentation - Decision Design & College Confidence
GradGuard was pleased to participate in a panel discussion at this week PDG Bursar 2018 Conference on the topic of The College Confidence Index and Transparency: Helping Students and...
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By GradGuard,
September 18, 2017
Webinar - Transparency - Helping Students and Families Take Informed Action
Please join Professional Development Group's education series for a webinar led by John Fees, co-founder of GradGuard and Craig Lockwood, of Tuition Management Systems as they discuss the...
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By GradGuard,
November 5, 2018
2018 PDG Student Financial Services Conference Presentation
GradGuard is pleased to participate in a panel discussion at today's PDG Student Loan 2018 Conference. John Fees, co-founder of GradGuard and Paige Lee from Allianz Global Assistance will...
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By John Fees,
March 13, 2018
2018 NACUBO SFS - Tuition Refunds & More
Today it was my pleasure to join Mike Reynolds of Auburn University to present at the annual NACUBO Student Financial Services conference. It is always good to share the stage with a...
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By John Fees,
June 24, 2019
Forbes: The Growth in Tuition Insurance
Forbes Magazine is unique in not only publishing news regarding business and the economy, but also for providing a forum for voices to advance ideas through thoughtful columns. This...
Read More
By John Fees,
April 18, 2018
College Confidence & More + Bursars 2018
There are several gatherings of higher education officials that I find to be filled with essential truths.
Read More
By GradGuard,
September 29, 2017
"Look Right" - Helping Students and Families Take Informed Action Webinar
Have you ever noticed that in life - easy stuff get's done. Making it easy for students to make good decisions is a cornerstone of a well-designed education experience. For instance, p...
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By GradGuard,
January 26, 2021
Webcast: Best Practices and Benchmarks for Managing Refunds During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has made the need for colleges and universities to be transparent with refund and withdrawal policies clear. When students and families understand the inherent risk...
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By John Fees,
January 22, 2015
Who Pays for College When a Parent Dies?
There are many life events that can disrupt a student’s college education, but none more severe than the loss of a parent. Given the severity of such a disruption, it is startling how...
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By GradGuard,
February 12, 2020
70% Growth in Medical Withdrawals Reported in National Survey
GradGuard is pleased to support the ongoing research into the "Trends and Best Practices for Managing Student Withdrawals & Tuition Refunds."
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By GradGuard,
April 28, 2015
Common Practices in Managing College Tuition Refunds & Disclosures
We believe it is vital to understand the common practices of colleges and universities, which is why each year we seek to sponsor research on important topics of concern to both...
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By John Fees,
April 24, 2017
2017 Trends & Topics for Student Financial Services
Over the years of working with more than 200 colleges and universities, we have learned that there are many higher education...
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By John Fees,
July 16, 2015
Tuition Payment Plan Protection
According to the NACUBO SFS report, as of 2013 95% of institutions surveyed offered tuition payment plans.
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By GradGuard,
January 27, 2020
Webinar: 70% Growth in Medical Withdrawals Reported in National Survey
If your college or university is like the 70% of institution's who recently completed a national survey, your campus is seeing a rapid growth in student medical withdrawals.
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By John Fees,
July 25, 2016
NACUBO Annual Meeting - Ensuring Student Success
By John Fees,
March 22, 2016
Insights from the 2016 NACUBO Student Financial Services Conference
This started as a simple post to share some insights from the 2016 NACUBO Student Financial Services Conference, held last week in Memphis, TN.
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By John Fees,
April 18, 2018
College Confidence & More + Bursars 2018
There are several gatherings of higher education officials that I find to be filled with essential truths.
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By John Fees,
November 2, 2016
The Biggest Crisis in Higher Ed Isn't Student Debt, It's Students Who Don't Graduate
This is a follow-on to a LinkedIn post I created in 2014 and Titled: The Real Issue: Failing to Graduate is Costly. The statement remains even truer today. The National Center for Education...
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By John Fees,
March 8, 2016
Data: Increasing College Completion Rates
The National Student Clearinghouse® Research Center™ recently published state specific data regarding college completion rates. The information is valuable to policy makers in general...
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By GradGuard,
May 30, 2019
Student Health Trends: Student Medical Conditions Continue to Grow & Impact Withdrawals
Today GradGuard is attending the American College Health Association's annual conference in Denver. It is a useful reminder of the thousands of dedicated professionals who address the...
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By GradGuard,
August 4, 2015
The Cost of Medical Withdrawals
Though student medical withdrawals are infrequent, they appear to be a growing concern for institutions and the families they serve. A 2015 survey of college officials estimated that 41%...
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By John Fees,
December 18, 2019
Building Insights: Trends In Managing Student Medical Withdrawals & Impact On College Completion
This year GradGuard has engaged HigherEdStudy to complete the research report on 2019 Trends for Managing Student Withdrawals & Tuition Refunds.
Read More
By John Fees,
March 4, 2018
Reducing the Cost of College Student Withdrawals
If you are like many college and university officials, you are facing a growing number of student withdrawals. Student withdrawals are a costly event for everyone. Institutions depend...
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By GradGuard,
April 28, 2015
Common Practices in Managing College Tuition Refunds & Disclosures
We believe it is vital to understand the common practices of colleges and universities, which is why each year we seek to sponsor research on important topics of concern to both...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 13, 2018
2018 NACUBO SFS - Tuition Refunds & More
Today it was my pleasure to join Mike Reynolds of Auburn University to present at the annual NACUBO Student Financial Services conference. It is always good to share the stage with a...
Read More
By John Fees,
May 2, 2017
Student Health & Helping to Reduce the Growing Cost of Student Withdrawals with GradGuard Tuition Insurance
GradGuard's mission is to help protect the investment student's and their families make in a higher education. We aim publish research and bring attention to trends of vital interests to...
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By John Fees,
June 9, 2016
Growing Cost of Student Withdrawals
As colleges and universities conclude the Spring term and prepare for a new academic year, it is worthwhile to pause to evaluate the cost of student withdrawals on your campus. Clearly...
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By GradGuard,
November 14, 2016
Reducing the Cost of Withdrawals
If you are like many college and university officials, you are facing a growing number of student withdrawals. Student withdrawals are a costly event for everyone. Institutions depend...
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By John Fees,
November 8, 2017
Helping to Reduce the Growing Cost of Student Withdrawals with GradGuard
GradGuard's mission is to help protect the investment student's and their families make in a higher education. We aim publish research and bring attention to trends of vital interests to...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 13, 2017
45% of Schools Surveyed Report an Increase in Student Medical Withdrawals
The 2017 Survey on Student Withdawals & Refunds has revealed that nearly half of schools survyed report an increase in student medical withdrawals.
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
April 12, 2022
GradGuard Senior Director Honored with WACUHO's R.W. Gang Award
Wimer Alberto received the award for his dedication, partnership, and contributions to the Western Association of College and University Housing Officers.
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
April 11, 2022
GradGuard Strengthens Student Benefits Programs with Added Epidemic Protection for Tuition Insurance Plans
GradGuard's tuition insurance is the first program to offer nationwide protection for epidemics, including getting sick with COVID-19 – providing a financial safety net when schools don't
Read More
By Natalie Tarangioli,
March 14, 2022
School Spotlight: University of North Carolina Wilmington Helps Educate and Protect Their Students with Tuition Insurance
The University of North Carolina at Wilmington has been offering GradGuard Tuition Insurance to its students and families since the fall of 2020. Mindi Miller, who works in the Student...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
March 10, 2022
Testimonial: Renters Insurance is the Smart Choice for College Students
Students at Montana State University - Bozeman are familiar with GradGuard. The school has been a GradGuard Renters Insurance partner since 2018.
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By GradGuard,
March 4, 2022
Spring Break 2022: A College Student's Guide to Risks
PHOENIX (March 4, 2022): Nationwide, nearly 20 million college students are preparing to take their midterm exams before heading off to enjoy spring break. With dropping Covid-19 case...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
February 15, 2022
GradGuard Spotlight: Kaylyn Manning
Account managers serve as the liaison between companies and their customers or clients. Their main priority is to develop and maintain strong relationships by addressing customers' needs...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
February 10, 2022
School Spotlight: Rider University Takes an Integrated Approach to Renters Insurance
Renters insurance is not a new concept for Rider University. Roberta Butler has been working at the private university in Lawrence Township, New Jersey for the past 13 years. In all her...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
February 8, 2022
Tuition Insurance Testimonial: "The Best Investment We've Ever Made"
For many parents, sending a second child off to college is usually easier than the first. After learning what worked and didn’t work the first time around, they may feel more prepared for...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
January 21, 2022
How to Determine if a Renters Protection Program is Right For Your Institution
As higher education professionals are routinely asked to diligently review risk prevention methods, the team at GradGuard, using its hybrid knowledge of student housing and insurance, put...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
January 4, 2022
Setting Up an Insurance Protection Program in as Little as Two Weeks
Modern insurance programs provide valuable protection for college students and families, especially during uncertain times. On top of this, the burden of large scale financial losses on...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
December 14, 2021
School Spotlight: Participation in Purdue University's Tuition Protection Program Rapidly Rises
Purdue University has offered tuition insurance to its students and families for the past three years. Before that, the Big Ten school in West Lafayette, Indiana experienced many concerns...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
September 23, 2021
School Spotlight: Tuition Insurance Grows Nearly 8000% in 3 Years at Miami University
Tuition insurance has been offered to students and families at Miami University for as long as Kriss Cassano can remember. The bursar at the university in Oxford, Ohio has worked at the...
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By GradGuard,
September 14, 2021
GradGuard Launches New Website as College Risks Rise and Adoption of its Innovative Student Programs Soars
Improvements to member experience, performance, and brand identity enable college students and their families to protect their investment from the risks of college life. Phoenix, AZ (...
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By GradGuard,
July 22, 2021
With Mental Health Conditions on the Rise Among College Students, GradGuard Tuition Insurance Provides Viable Options for Families
GradGuard’s student insurance program provides refunds when colleges may not to students who medically withdraw due to mental health conditions and other covered reasons. Phoenix, AZ...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
July 14, 2021
GradGuard Makes it Easy for Off-Campus Housing Managers to Protect Residents and Their Assets
Comprehensive protection programs are now available to help student housing operators protect their residents from the impact of growing mental health crisis, COVID-19 implications, and...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 15, 2021
GradGuard Surpasses 400 College and University Partners
Only provider of tuition protection programs in country providing full refunds to students who medically withdraw from college due to mental health conditions or COVID-19
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 9, 2021
St. Edward's University Sees Transformation to Refund Appeals Process With Tuition Protection Program
Handling refunds at a college or university is no simple task. It can be quite the burden; just ask Peter Beilharz, who has been handling refunds for St. Edward's University in Austin,...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
April 26, 2021
Testimonial: Renters Insurance Covered Dorm Room Theft
When it comes to tuition and renters insurance, students and their families have the biggest advantage when they attend a school that's partnered with GradGuard. Our network of more than...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
April 19, 2021
School Spotlight: Texas Tech University Provides Confidence With Tuition and Renters Protection Programs
In college, students learn how to live on their own, learning how to be financially responsible and knowing what risks are out there.
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By GradGuard,
April 6, 2021
Webinar: Take an Integrated Approach to Financial Literacy for Your Students
College is expensive, but life happens. When students and families understand the inherent risk and possible financial implications associated with a premature withdrawal from college,...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
March 22, 2021
Testimonial: Renters Insurance Covered Pipe Burst Damage in Dorm Room
More often than not, college students don't really think about the possibility of their stuff being stolen or damaged while they're at school. Campus can create a safe, bubble-like feeling,...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
March 17, 2021
School Spotlight: Sacramento State Provides Value With a Renters Protection Program
Often times, one incident with sprinklers unintentionally going off in a residence hall is all it takes to look into a college renters insurance program for students. That’s exactly what...
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By GradGuard,
February 24, 2021
GradGuard's Wimer Alberto Talks About Considering Alternate Career Paths on The Meeting After The Meeting Podcast
Everyone should have a "village" with like-minded people that can be a safe and welcoming space. That's the idea behind The Meeting After The Meeting Podcast. The show, which is hosted by...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
February 23, 2021
On-Demand Webinar: Best Practices and Benchmarks for Managing Refunds During COVID-19
As uncertainty from the pandemic continues, managing refunds and withdrawals remains one of the top issues burdening higher education administrators. GradGuard's latest webinar, 'Best...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
February 17, 2021
4 Ways to Find Out if a Renters Protection Program is Right For Your Institution
In a year where professionals are asked to diligently review risk prevention methods, the team at GradGuard, using its hybrid knowledge of student housing and insurance, put together some...
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By GradGuard,
February 17, 2021
Meet GradGuard Virtually at SEAHO 2021!
You can catch GradGuard at this year's Southeastern Association of Housing Officers (SEAHO) conference happening Feb. 24-26.
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
February 11, 2021
School Spotlight: Students at Santa Clara University Learn Adulting Lesson With Renters Insurance
Students learn a lot in college, both in and out of the classroom. It's a time when many young adults learn what it really means to be on their own. No one is there to wake them up for...
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By GradGuard,
January 26, 2021
Webcast: Best Practices and Benchmarks for Managing Refunds During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has made the need for colleges and universities to be transparent with refund and withdrawal policies clear. When students and families understand the inherent risk...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
January 19, 2021
School Spotlight: University of South Carolina Supports Students By Requiring Insurance for On-Campus Housing
Requiring college students to have insurance might sound like an impossible feat. But not for the University of South Carolina. Students living in on-campus housing are required to have...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
January 8, 2021
How to Ace the Technical Set Up to Offer Tuition and Renters Insurance to College Students
The burden of large scale financial losses on colleges and universities has worsened over recent years. The pandemic has made schools even more strapped for cash than before, and we can...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
December 21, 2020
5 Things to Know From Off-Campus Student Housing Experts
It's no secret there are some big differences between living on or off campus. For many students, moving off campus can feel like a bigger transition than moving on campus, simply because...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
December 15, 2020
School Spotlight: Wheaton College Massachusetts Sees Benefits of Tuition Insurance
It's been several years since medical appeals were taking a great toll on Wheaton College, when claims for withdrawals were handled internally. A tuition insurance provider would...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
November 12, 2020
GradGuard Partners with Transact Campus Inc. for Tuition Insurance
GradGuard's list of exclusive integrated campus payment programs continues to expand, with the latest announcement of a partnership with Transact Campus Inc. The joint collaboration with...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
November 10, 2020
School Spotlight: How Cal State Monterey Bay Protects Students from Financial Losses
A lot of learning is done in college, in and outside of the classroom. One of the biggest things students learn to do is how to live on their own. Sometimes, living on your own might mean...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
November 9, 2020
Does Your Campus Provide 100% Refunds?
Colleges and universities nationwide are continuing to face challenges brought on by the pandemic. But one of the biggest issues that existed before Covid-19, and will surely exist long...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
October 12, 2020
School Spotlight: University of St. Thomas Offers Tuition Insurance
It's not uncommon for higher education staff to find themselves inundated with appeals for medical withdrawals. It's a burdensome process that's also difficult on students and families. In...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
October 6, 2020
Financial Advisor Magazine: Want a College Refund for Covid Chaos?
Even outside of a pandemic, getting a college tuition refund or reimbursement could be tricky. Confusion has only increased since the spring, and is coming to light even more now that fall...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
October 1, 2020
GradGuard Welcomes More Than 40 New Campus Partners This Summer
There's no doubt this summer has shown how the pandemic continues to create risks and challenges in higher education. Perhaps one of the biggest concerns is the lack of awareness...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
September 30, 2020
5 Strategies for Talking to Concerned Families
As the end of the year nears, it's hard to remember what life was like prior to the pandemic. There's no doubt higher education staff have been under a tremendous amount of stress tackling...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
September 29, 2020
Assisting Your Frontline Housing Staff
Staff on the frontline often think they're forgotten people until something needs to get done. Between juggling student emergencies and crises, acknowledging their work can go a long way in...
Read MoreTuition insurance exists to provide a refund for a covered medical withdrawal when colleges and universities don't. The best way for college students, families, and school officials to...
Read MoreCollege students have a lot of stuff with them on campus, and they're often expensive items that aren't easily replaced. It's no surprise laptops or bicycles are stolen or damaged from time...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
July 20, 2020
Testimonial: Renter's insurance covered student's stolen laundry
In college, you may hear about a student's bike or a laptop being stolen. But what about laundry?
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
July 13, 2020
Inside Higher Ed Showcases Growing Interest in Tuition Insurance
The Coronavirus pandemic has created a massive disruption in higher education and brought greater attention to the risks of investing in college. GradGuard's tuition insurance is the most...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
July 6, 2020
Forbes Spotlights Value of Tuition Insurance
The impact of the Coronavirus on the operations of colleges and universities has focused attention by students and families on the refund policies of schools. With families investing more...
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 29, 2020
National Insurance Awareness Day: Know the Risks of College Life
Insurance is often one of those things we forget about until we need it. June 28 is National Insurance Awareness Day, and it's a good time to evaluate the risks of college life.
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 19, 2020
Webinar: 2020 Student Housing Operations Research Study
There is no doubt the Coronavirus has deeply disrupted the student housing experience and new research demonstrates the vital role of leaders within student housing operations.
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By Natalie Tarangioli,
June 2, 2020
What Housing and Residential Life Officers Need to Know About Renters Insurance
More colleges and universities than ever are implementing programs to reduce the risk to students and families of investing in college. When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March,...
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By GradGuard,
May 19, 2020
Survey: 2020 Student Housing Operations Research
Approximately 3 million students nationwide live in housing that is owned and operated by colleges and universities. The COVID-19 crisis dramatically disrupted the student housing...
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By GradGuard,
May 1, 2020
Medical conditions, not just COVID-19, create financial losses for students & schools
The Coronavirus crisis is upending normal life as we know it, forcing millions of college students across the country to move to online-only learning. Multiple news articles about how...
Read More
By GradGuard,
April 23, 2020
Coronavirus Pandemic Spurs Confusion Over College Refunds
The Coronavirus crisis has upended normal life as we know it. Over the past several weeks, schools nationwide have shifted to online-only instruction. With the change in instruction,...
Read More
By GradGuard,
February 12, 2020
70% Growth in Medical Withdrawals Reported in National Survey
GradGuard is pleased to support the ongoing research into the "Trends and Best Practices for Managing Student Withdrawals & Tuition Refunds."
Read More
By GradGuard,
January 31, 2020
Top 7 Reasons to Adopt a College Renters Protection Program
The College Board indicates that more than 1,237 institutions now guarantee student housing for all freshmen with many institutions requiring students to live on campus. This requirement...
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By GradGuard,
January 27, 2020
Webinar: 70% Growth in Medical Withdrawals Reported in National Survey
If your college or university is like the 70% of institution's who recently completed a national survey, your campus is seeing a rapid growth in student medical withdrawals.
Read More
By GradGuard,
January 17, 2020
GradGuard expands campus development leadership team to serve its rapidly growing network of colleges and universities
Higher education professional joins GradGuard to make it easy for schools to protect the students and families they serve.Phoenix, Arizona GradGuard, an authority at designing and...
Read More
By John Fees,
December 18, 2019
Building Insights: Trends In Managing Student Medical Withdrawals & Impact On College Completion
This year GradGuard has engaged HigherEdStudy to complete the research report on 2019 Trends for Managing Student Withdrawals & Tuition Refunds.
Read More
By GradGuard,
August 1, 2019
Students Remain Vulnerable to Losses from Campus Fires & Crime
Growth in campus fires and crimes confirm the value of GradGuard's renters insurance for college students.
Read MoreOur GradGuard team (Steve Fucci, Wimer Alberto and Jasabel Teston) attended the annual ACUHO-I conference in Toronto. There are many reasons to celebrate and give thanks to this community...
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By John Fees,
June 24, 2019
Forbes: The Growth in Tuition Insurance
Forbes Magazine is unique in not only publishing news regarding business and the economy, but also for providing a forum for voices to advance ideas through thoughtful columns. This...
Read More
By GradGuard,
June 20, 2019
GradGuard expands campus development team
Student success professional joining GradGuard to make it easy for schools to protect their students.
Read More
By GradGuard,
May 30, 2019
Student Health Trends: Student Medical Conditions Continue to Grow & Impact Withdrawals
Today GradGuard is attending the American College Health Association's annual conference in Denver. It is a useful reminder of the thousands of dedicated professionals who address the...
Read More
By John Fees,
April 8, 2019
Leading on-campus renters insurance program now available for off-campus & private student housing.
Student Housing Operators looking to protect their property and increase profitability are smart to consider GradGuard’s off-campus renters insurance program.
Read More
By John Fees,
March 25, 2019
Growing Collegiate InsurTech Platform Achieves Scale with 300th School Partner
When Bill Suneson and I co-founded GradGuard, we had a shared vision that we could reduce the risk of college by creating relevant insurance programs that were designed to benefit students,...
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By John Fees,
January 30, 2019
Trends in On-Campus Safety & Fires
The end of 2018 proved once again that fires within student housing is a chronic and enduring problem. In fact, if 2018 was like prior years, when Clery Act data is finally tabulated it is...
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By John Fees,
November 19, 2018
More Evidence - Adoption of Tuition Insurance by Schools Continues to Grow
2018 has been a milestone year for GradGuard.
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By GradGuard,
November 5, 2018
2018 PDG Student Financial Services Conference Presentation
GradGuard is pleased to participate in a panel discussion at today's PDG Student Loan 2018 Conference. John Fees, co-founder of GradGuard and Paige Lee from Allianz Global Assistance will...
Read More
By John Fees,
October 30, 2018
Campus Fires Continue - GradGuard can help.
In the past few weeks, campus fires in university residence halls have been reported at Mississippi State University, Duke University and University of Oakland.
Read More
By John Fees,
September 13, 2018
Survey Finds Families Struggle to Navigate FAFSA; Financial Aid Officers are Parents' Top Pick for College Planning Advice
Since Bill Suneson and I founded GradGuard, we have always been focused on providing useful insights to the trends facing higher education.
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By John Fees,
September 5, 2018
2018 Campus Safety Magazine Article
This article appeared first in the August 2018 Campus Safety Magazine. New approaches to renters insurance programs are helping protect students and colleges from common risks, such as fire...
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By John Fees,
July 26, 2018
Growth in campus fires and crimes confirm the value of renters insurance for college students.
Each year, our GradGuard team makes an effort to update key data regarding campus safety and crime. We review Clery Act reports as well as other sources of data such as the FBI's Uniform...
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By Steve Fucci,
July 23, 2018
The Top Five Reasons GradGuard Loves the ACUHO-I National Conference (in no particular order)
1. Great people and partnerships: Every year we get to spend time with good people, partners who have become friends, friends who have become partners and those who are just friends! Every...
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By John Fees,
July 18, 2018
Testimonial - "Tuition Insurance Was Such A Lifesaver"
The best way to understand the value of GradGuard's tuition insurance to schools and college families is to hear from a customer who enrolled in the program.
Read More
By Wimer Alberto,
June 20, 2018
Introducing, The GradGuard Emerging Housing Professional Scholarship
GradGuard, an authority at designing and implementing student benefit programs that help institutions of higher education to attract and retain students, is pleased to announce the launch...
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By GradGuard,
April 27, 2018
2018 PDG Bursars Conference Presentation - Decision Design & College Confidence
GradGuard was pleased to participate in a panel discussion at this week PDG Bursar 2018 Conference on the topic of The College Confidence Index and Transparency: Helping Students and...
Read More
By John Fees,
April 18, 2018
College Confidence & More + Bursars 2018
There are several gatherings of higher education officials that I find to be filled with essential truths.
Read More
By John Fees,
March 20, 2018
URMIA - The Case for Student Renters Insurance
I shared this post recently with for the March edition of URMIA Insights - (University Risk Management and Insurance Association). The message, however, is important for other leaders in...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 13, 2018
2018 NACUBO SFS - Tuition Refunds & More
Today it was my pleasure to join Mike Reynolds of Auburn University to present at the annual NACUBO Student Financial Services conference. It is always good to share the stage with a...
Read More
By John Fees,
March 4, 2018
Reducing the Cost of College Student Withdrawals
If you are like many college and university officials, you are facing a growing number of student withdrawals. Student withdrawals are a costly event for everyone. Institutions depend...
Read More
By GradGuard,
January 30, 2018
Education Dive Webinar on Growing Confidence of Students & Families
The growth in medical events that can disrupt a students education is a concern for everyone committed to increasing college completion. The data in the chart below demonstrates the trends...
Read More
By John Fees,
November 8, 2017
Helping to Reduce the Growing Cost of Student Withdrawals with GradGuard
GradGuard's mission is to help protect the investment student's and their families make in a higher education. We aim publish research and bring attention to trends of vital interests to...
Read More
By GradGuard,
September 29, 2017
"Look Right" - Helping Students and Families Take Informed Action Webinar
Have you ever noticed that in life - easy stuff get's done. Making it easy for students to make good decisions is a cornerstone of a well-designed education experience. For instance, p...
Read More
By GradGuard,
September 18, 2017
Webinar - Transparency - Helping Students and Families Take Informed Action
Please join Professional Development Group's education series for a webinar led by John Fees, co-founder of GradGuard and Craig Lockwood, of Tuition Management Systems as they discuss the...
Read More
By GradGuard,
June 27, 2017
New College Insurance Search Tool Makes It Easy for Parents to Protect Their Students and Investment
Paying for college can be a challenge but thanks to a new innovative college search tool providing valuable protection for your college student is easy as ever. The average published...
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By John Fees,
June 2, 2017
Protecting International Students
This is a big week for professionals who serve international students.
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By John Fees,
May 25, 2017
Decision Design in Education - Make It Easy
Have you ever noticed that in life - easy stuff get's done. Making it easy for students to make good decisions is a cornerstone of a well-designed education. For instance, placing a...
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By John Fees,
May 5, 2017
Taking Tuition Insurance to the Next Level
We are very pleased to be working with Allianz Global Assistance to help take tuition insurance to the next level. Very pleased to share this public announcement. Thanks to our...
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By John Fees,
May 2, 2017
Student Health & Helping to Reduce the Growing Cost of Student Withdrawals with GradGuard Tuition Insurance
GradGuard's mission is to help protect the investment student's and their families make in a higher education. We aim publish research and bring attention to trends of vital interests to...
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By John Fees,
April 24, 2017
2017 Trends & Topics for Student Financial Services
Over the years of working with more than 200 colleges and universities, we have learned that there are many higher education...
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By John Fees,
March 31, 2017
2017 New & Improved - College Renters Insurance
I love the spring. The last day of March, however, brings the reality that Major League Baseball spring training is ending and the hot Arizona summer will soon be upon us.
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By John Fees,
March 13, 2017
45% of Schools Surveyed Report an Increase in Student Medical Withdrawals
The 2017 Survey on Student Withdawals & Refunds has revealed that nearly half of schools survyed report an increase in student medical withdrawals.
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By GradGuard,
March 6, 2017
Student Housing Leader Joins GradGuard, an Authority at Designing and Implementing Student Benefits Programs
GradGuard, an authority at designing and implementing student benefit programs that help schools to attract and retain students, is pleased to announce that Wimer Alberto, Assistant...
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By GradGuard,
January 23, 2017
Managing Property Losses & Damages from Short Term Residents & Summer Programs
There continues to be a growing interest in how schools manage the risks associated with the management of summer camps & conferences. This is a timely topic and one that GradGuard's...
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By GradGuard,
November 14, 2016
Reducing the Cost of Withdrawals
If you are like many college and university officials, you are facing a growing number of student withdrawals. Student withdrawals are a costly event for everyone. Institutions depend...
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By John Fees,
November 2, 2016
The Biggest Crisis in Higher Ed Isn't Student Debt, It's Students Who Don't Graduate
This is a follow-on to a LinkedIn post I created in 2014 and Titled: The Real Issue: Failing to Graduate is Costly. The statement remains even truer today. The National Center for Education...
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By John Fees,
October 11, 2016
ACUHOI - Business Operations Conference
It was wonderful to see so many colleagues last week attending the annual ACUHO-I Business Operations conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. Arizona is home for many of our GradGuard team so...
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By GradGuard,
September 22, 2016
Professional Development Group Webinar On Best Practices for Disclosing & Managing Tuition Refunds
Every year, unexpected events happen that can often disrupt a student's education...and when they do, GradGuard's Tuition Protection Plan can help pay for the potential financial loss...
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By John Fees,
July 25, 2016
NACUBO Annual Meeting - Ensuring Student Success
By GradGuard,
July 13, 2016
Do you wish you could provide 100% refunds for students?
Every year, unexpected events happen that can often disrupt a student's education...and when they do, GradGuard's tuition insurance can help pay for the potential financial loss experienced...
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By John Fees,
June 9, 2016
Growing Cost of Student Withdrawals
As colleges and universities conclude the Spring term and prepare for a new academic year, it is worthwhile to pause to evaluate the cost of student withdrawals on your campus. Clearly...
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By GradGuard,
May 4, 2016
Does your campus provide 100% refunds?
If your campus does not provide 100% refunds for medical withdrawals, GradGuard recommends that your institution provide notice to each student of your refund policy and also provide the...
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By Steve Fucci,
April 21, 2016
Helping Schools Protect Students
In our work with college and university officials we often hear two topics that are a great concern. Officials are concerned about bad press regarding student crime and campus safety....
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By John Fees,
March 22, 2016
Insights from the 2016 NACUBO Student Financial Services Conference
This started as a simple post to share some insights from the 2016 NACUBO Student Financial Services Conference, held last week in Memphis, TN.
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By John Fees,
March 8, 2016
Data: Increasing College Completion Rates
The National Student Clearinghouse® Research Center™ recently published state specific data regarding college completion rates. The information is valuable to policy makers in general...
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By John Fees,
December 21, 2015
Controversy & Campus Reports on Clery Data
Kelly Field wrote in the November 25, 2015 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education an important article (“How Much Can Campus-Crime Reports Tell Us About Sexual Assault?”) on what campus...
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By GradGuard,
December 15, 2015
Renters Insurance Discussion within ACUHOI
It was great to see ACUHOI discussion regarding the value of renters insurance in their message boards / forums. These are really useful discussions and it is great to see the variety of...
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By GradGuard,
November 23, 2015
Twitter Voices for Higher Education & Safety
Twitter is a vibrant social media channel with colleagues in and around the college and university marketplace. Here are some of my favorite voices within organizations, companies and...
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By GradGuard,
November 19, 2015
FEMA Report: Campus Fire Fatalities 2000 - 2015
The United States Department of Fire Administration published a useful report titled "Campus Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings" detailing the factors that are leading to the...
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By GradGuard,
October 2, 2015
Adopting a Preferred Renters Insurance Program
The College Board indicates that more than 1,237 institutions now guarantee student housing for all freshmen with many institutions requiring students to live on campus. This requirement...
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By Bill Suneson,
August 24, 2015
Do College Students Need Renters Insurance?
We are often asked by friends and family preparing to send their kids to college about student renters insurance. This is not surprising since many news stories and insurance agents offer...
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By GradGuard,
August 4, 2015
The Cost of Medical Withdrawals
Though student medical withdrawals are infrequent, they appear to be a growing concern for institutions and the families they serve. A 2015 survey of college officials estimated that 41%...
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By GradGuard,
July 30, 2015
Tuition Refund Policy Disclosure Process
As students return to campus for the start of college, we like to remind our college and university partners to recommit to disclosing their refund policies to each student. A 2014 survey...
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By John Fees,
July 16, 2015
Tuition Payment Plan Protection
According to the NACUBO SFS report, as of 2013 95% of institutions surveyed offered tuition payment plans.
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By GradGuard,
July 13, 2015
Utilizing Student Benefits to Attract, Retain, and Protect Students
Last week we delivered a show-case presentation with leaders in higher education enrollment management at the RuffaloNoelLevitz - 2015 National Conference on Student Recruitment, Marketing,...
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By GradGuard,
June 22, 2015
Trends & Best Practices in Implementing Renters Liability & Protection Programs
Requiring students to live on campus has many benefits, but it also creates an often unforeseen risk for students and their families. In fact, published research supports this requirement...
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By John Fees,
June 19, 2015
Tell Us - What Do You Wish You Knew When You Were 20?
Over the past few years, GradGuard has often shared a terrific book by Tina Seelig, What I Wish I knew When I Was 20.
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By John Fees,
May 18, 2015
Impact of Student Financial Services Policies & Procedures Report by NACUBO
The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) recently published the first update to its Student Financial Services Policies and Procedures Report since...
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By GradGuard,
April 28, 2015
Common Practices in Managing College Tuition Refunds & Disclosures
We believe it is vital to understand the common practices of colleges and universities, which is why each year we seek to sponsor research on important topics of concern to both...
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By John Fees,
January 22, 2015
Who Pays for College When a Parent Dies?
There are many life events that can disrupt a student’s college education, but none more severe than the loss of a parent. Given the severity of such a disruption, it is startling how...
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By John Fees,
January 19, 2015
Dr. King's Lessons on Leadership
This weekend, I took the time to reread Dr. Martin Luther King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail that he composed on April 16, 1963. Dr. King's letter addressed themes of social justice and...
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By John Fees,
January 7, 2015
5 Essential Questions for Higher Ed in 2015
By John Fees,
December 31, 2014
Top 7 - Not to Be Missed 2014 Topics in Higher Education
2014 was filled with many experiences, events and articles have stayed with me and continue to make me think about challenges facing the U.S. education system. Here is a summary of major...
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By John Fees,
December 15, 2014
The Real Issue: Failing to Graduate Is Costly
David Leonhardt is the editor of Upshot at the New York Times and posted a useful article titled The Reality of Student Debt Is Different From the Clichés. It reminds me of the challenges...
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Topic: Cost Of College
By GradGuard,
May 19, 2020
Survey: 2020 Student Housing Operations Research
Approximately 3 million students nationwide live in housing that is owned and operated by colleges and universities. The COVID-19 crisis dramatically disrupted the student housing...
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By GradGuard,
May 1, 2020
Medical conditions, not just COVID-19, create financial losses for students & schools
The Coronavirus crisis is upending normal life as we know it, forcing millions of college students across the country to move to online-only learning. Multiple news articles about how...
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By GradGuard,
April 23, 2020
Coronavirus Pandemic Spurs Confusion Over College Refunds
The Coronavirus crisis has upended normal life as we know it. Over the past several weeks, schools nationwide have shifted to online-only instruction. With the change in instruction,...
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By John Fees,
June 24, 2019
Forbes: The Growth in Tuition Insurance
Forbes Magazine is unique in not only publishing news regarding business and the economy, but also for providing a forum for voices to advance ideas through thoughtful columns. This...
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Dynamic Distribution & Enrollment Platform
GradGuard built a dynamic technology platform that manages speciality insurance programs in the complex eco-system of higher education.
Easy to implement voluntary student benefit program
No cost to schools
Turnkey and tech enabled enrollment process
Broker Friendly
GRADGUARD PROVIDES VALUABLE SCHOOL & STUDENT BENEFITS
GradGuard student benefit and insurance programs are designed to assist colleges in addressing essential activities to their mission. Since 2009, GradGuard’s insurance programs have protected more than 750,000 students and families.
Recruitment: GradGuard benefits provide confidence to students and their families that the school is committed to providing relevant protections to what is often the 2nd largest investment in a families life.
Retention: GradGuard tuition and renters insurance products help students overcome unexpected financial losses due to medical events or property losses.
- Our tuition insurance pays any remaining bills and helps the student afford to return to classes.
- Our renters insurance pays for property losses and helps schools avoid an adversarial collections issue from students who are found liable for unintentional damages they cause.
Revenue: GradGuard's insurance programs pay for losses due to student medical withdrawals and property losses so the school does not have to.
Reputation: We enable schools to be completely transparent about institutional policies, refund polices and resident liability.
- Our tuition insurance provides refunds when schools may not.
- Our renters insurance replace stolen or damaged property when schools may not.
Higher Education Expertise
GradGuard applies our knowledge of higher education, risk management and digital technology and to develop and distribute insurance and benefit programs that help schools attract and retain students. Acting as the exclusive collegiate market program manager with our selected underwriters, GradGuard executes all consumer marketing & enrollment processes.
Trusted
Schools who agree to provide GradGuard's digital enrollment process, provide greater value and protection to their students than is ordinarily available.
Technology
GradGuard's advanced technology integrations with leading technology providers enable students to make an active choice to protect themselves within the billing, housing and student health waiver processes.
Partnerships
GradGuard works with leading insurance brokers, student loan companies, enrollment consultants and other firms to support their strategic objectives.
Innovative Student Benefits
GradGuard works closely with schools and partners to mitigate the unique risks facing institutions, students and families.
Student Health Plan: GradGuard continues to evaluate how to address the student health insurance needs of college students and new graduates. We continue to seek relevant solutions and aim to relaunch Student HealthPlan.com in the future.
Higher Education Loan Protection: GradGuard has deep knowledge of the student loan industry and aims to work with schools to attract students through a tuition guarantee that will pay the cost of student loans in the case a graduate is under-employed.
Tuition Continuity Plan: GradGuard has worked to create a student benefit that will enable students to pay for the entire cost of college in the unexpected death of a tuition payor / parent. The benefit is included within the cost of college, similar to how term life insurance is provided to employees.
TRUSTED BY MORE THAN 450 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
HOW CAN OUR PROTECTION PROGRAMS HELP YOUR STUDENTS?
