East Carolina University is welcoming a record number of freshmen this year; 3,500 to be exact.

Today, lots of them unpacked and moved into their new rooms. They began early Thursday morning at the residence halls. But they only have a week longer to relax. Classes start the 24^.

But what's new and what steps are the university taking to make sure your kids are safe on campus?

Who knew the next four years of Lauren Schultz's life could fit in the trunk of a car; a trunk the marketing major packed in Connecticut and opened hundreds of miles south in a cramped dorm room six floors over Greenville.

Lauren's Wally says he's excited for her, but admits he's also a little on edge. "This is their first big step away from home so you pray everything is going to work out and that there is no problems."

Problems East Carolina University have already taken steps to prevent; from the downtown scene to the bus system.

Advisor to the student transit authority, Scott Allford says, "We're anticipating being busy. Typically we carry an excess of 10,000 thousand students a day in and around Greenville and university area.

That's one of the reasons they've bought two new busses. They're not just any kind though, these have video cameras.

The university police department has teamed up with Greenville P.D. E.C.U. Police Chief Frank Knight says they'll patrol downtown where a lot of students hang out, but that's just the tip of the iceberg.

He says, "We'll be putting extra patrols out and about in and around the dorms themselves."It's added security both Lauren, her dad, and thousands of other parents are happy to hear about.

There are some other things on campus that are keeping students safe such as security poles and student identification cards.? Students need the I.D. to get into their dorms and also buses.??