Occasionally, incidents such as fire, theft, flood, and other casualties may cause damage to residents’ personal property stored in campus residence hall rooms or University Apartments. Texas A&M University does not carry insurance on residents’ belongings, and can only pay for damages as permitted by the Texas Tort Claims Act (TX Gov’t Code 101.021). The act provides Texas A&M University can only pay for property damage proximately caused by the wrongful act, omission, or negligence of an employee acting within his scope of employment if the property damage arises from the operation or use of a motor-driven vehicle or motor-driven equipment. Therefore, the Department of Residence Life strongly encourages students to either (1) make arrangements with their parent’s or guardian’s homeowners insurance company to insure coverage for personal belongings, or (2) purchase a separate personal property insurance or renters insurance policy.

In some instances, a parent’s or guardian’s homeowners insurance will cover damage to personal property of a dependent child in a state owned facility (such as a residence hall or university owned apartment), but this is not a universal truth. Consult with your parents or guardians and their insurance agent to decide whether or not personal belongings on campus are already covered, and if there might be any limitations to the coverage. If not covered, or if coverage cannot be added, then ask the insurance agent about purchasing a separate personal property insurance or renters insurance policy.

Personal property insurance covers only property owned by an individual, while renters insurance has coverage similar to homeowners insurance (covers both liability and property). Both types of insurance are very affordable. Texas A&M University does not endorse any particular insurance company providing personal property or renters insurance; however, the three insurance providers listed below have been identified by the university as offering a variety of coverage options from highly rated underwriters.

National Student Services, Inc - http://www.nssi.com/
CSI Insurance Agency, Inc - http://www.collegestudentinsurance.com/
Haylor, Freyer, and Coon, Inc - http://www.haylor.com/student/

If a student's personal belongings brought on campus are not already covered under a homeowner’s insurance policy, Texas A&M University strongly encourages residents to consider securing personal property insurance or renters insurance. Students should review the varied plan options offered by the three insurance providers listed above, and any other insurance provider of their choosing, to determine and choose the coverage that most closely aligns with their needs.

For additional information, contact the Assistant Director for Residence Life Risk Management Risk Management at 979.862.3158.

(See also Heath Insurance Information for Students)