Ryan Lasker

Colleges and universities nationwide want students to stay grounded.

Due to safety concerns about the use of hoverboards -- two-wheel, self-balancing electric boards -- a growing number of schools are implementing campus or partial-campus bans on the devices. There have been reports of some spontaneously igniting during use or while charging and, on Dec. 16, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that it's investigating 28 fires in 19 states caused by hoverboards. There have also been at least “70 ER-related injuries” from the scooters, according to the commission.

The bans and partial bans started in December and have since grown to more than 30 schools. Here's an informal tally of those who've just said "no" -- or mostly no -- to the scooters. The number is growing, so keep an eye out for school emails and announcements.

American University, Washington, D.C.: A campus-wide ban was put into place Jan. 4.

Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Mass.: An email was sent to the student body on Jan. 8 by John King, director of public safety, banning hoverboards on campus, according to student newspaper The Heights. The Office of Environmental Health & Safety recommended the measure, according to the newspaper.

Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass.: A hoverboard "restriction is effective immediately and applies to all members of the university community," Jim Gray, vice president for campus operations, wrote in an email to the Boston Globe.

University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, Conn.: The university has decided to ban them due to "fire concerns," reported NBCconnecticut.com.

Butler University, Indianapolis, Ind.: Banned from campus, according to multiple reports.

Catholic University, Washington, D.C.: The school has temporarily banned hoverboards on campus until the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has completed it study.

University of Connecticut campuses: The ban is on all University of Connecticut campuses statewide, according to the Hartford Courant. They also can't be "stored or charged in any university buildings, including dorms." The ban applies to all the regional campuses and the Health Center, it reported.

Emerson College, Boston: The school has banned "hoverboards, self-propelled scooters, and similar devices throughout the campus,” according to a school email obtained by the Boston Globe.

University of Evansville, Evansville, Ind.: The dean of students announced a temporary ban.

George Washington University, Washington, D.C.: Banned on campus as of Jan. 1, according to The GW Hatchet.

Georgia State University, Atlanta: On Jan. 8 the school posted on its Facebook page that "because of fire concerns, the use, possession or storage of hoverboards (self-balancing scooters, battery-operated scooters, hands-free Segways and other similar equipment) is prohibited in university-owned or managed buildings."

University of Hartford, Hartford, Conn: The school told students not to bring hoverboards on campus for the spring semester, according to a report from WFSB, although a tweet from the student newspaper, The Informer, seems to indicate that the ban pertains to storage and residence halls.

Kean University, Union, N.J.: Hoverboards are "prohibited on the Union and Kean Ocean campuses due to potential fire and safety hazards," according to a university tweet.

University of Kentucky, Lexington: Based on university "safety standards and recent instances of batteries from electronic skateboards and self-balancing devices bursting into flames," hoverboards and similar devices are temporarily banned.

University of Massachusetts Amherst: "Citing safety concerns about fires and explosions linked to lithium-ion batteries in hoverboards," the devices were banned effective Jan. 8.

Loyola University-New Orleans: An announcement posted Jan. 7 read that "hoverboards and similar products are not allowed to be used, charged or stored on campus or in any campus buildings," reported student newspaper The Maroon.

University of North Georgia, Dahlonega: As of Jan. 4, 2016, UNG prohibited the "use, possession, or storage of Hoverboards, Swagways, or similar devices in all UNG buildings," the school posted on its Facebook page. It also "strongly cautions against storing these products in vehicles."

Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Conn.: As of Jan. 8, the Department of Public Safety prohibited the "operation, charging and storing of hoverboards on university property due to safety concerns," according to a memo from Chief of Public Safety Edgar Rodriguez reported in school newspaper the Quinnipiac Chronicle.

Salve Regina University, Newport, R.I.: One of the first to ban the device, the no-hoverboard policy was implemented on Dec. 14, according to a report in the Boston Globe. It also said that Michael Caruolo, director of safety and security at Salve Regina University, said the university "will reconsider if the fire danger is eliminated."

Stevens Institute of Technology,Hoboken, N.J.: USA TODAY College received a school email forwarded by a student that noted a campus-wide ban went into place Dec. 21.

Suffolk University, Boston: Suffolk University officials told The Boston Globe it "would no longer allow hoverboards at the school beginning in the spring." University spokesman Greg Gatlin, in an email to the newspaper, wrote, “It’s been in the works since December and students will be notified" the week of Jan. 11.

Wellesley University, Wellesley, Mass.: A statement on its website reads: "The use, possession, or storage of Hoverboards and similar devices, are prohibited on the Wellesley College campus until safety standards can be developed and implemented by the manufacturers."

SCHOOLS WITH PARTIAL BANS

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville: Hoverboards were banned Dec. 18 from university buildings reported student newspaper The Arkansas Traveler.

University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa: No more such devices are allowed in "UA housing facilities, including Greek houses," according to a Jan. 6 email sent to students, reported student newspaper the Crimson White. The University is "placing restrictions on the use of the scooters 'Out of an abundance of caution.'"

George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.: The school has banned them in residence halls, according to NBCwashington.com.

University of Iowa, Iowa City: The school posted a new policy Dec. 18 that prohibited the use and possession of hoverboards in residence halls, apartments and dining halls. It noted that "students who receive them as gifts this break period should not bring them back to campus."

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Ill.: The flagship campus reportedly is keeping hoverboards from residence and dining halls. Campus spokeswoman Robin Kaler told WQAD.com that they "may eventually become contraband all over campus." (University of Illinois-Chicago spokesman Bill Burton said that campus is also considering action, according to WQAD.)

Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind.: Students can use hoverboards on campus, but not in residence halls, Mark Land, the university’s associate vice president of public affairs told Fox 59.

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La.: On Dec. 30, LSU released a new policy to on-campus residents that noted it's prohibiting "the use, possession or storage of electronic skateboards including self-balancing boards/scooters and other similar equipment in all university-managed residence halls, apartments, and Greek houses."

Ohio State, Columbus: The Office of Student Life University Housing announced a ban on the "certain hoverboards" in university residence halls, reported student newspaper The Lantern on Dec. 30. It pertains to hoverboards and other "lithium battery-powered transportation devices, if those devices are not approved by Underwriters Laboratory, a federally-approved safety consultation and certification firm."

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.: The school banned the hoverboards in residence halls, according to Fox59.com.

Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, Ohio: The school's Housing & Residence Life notes that hoverboard-type devices are banned from residence halls "due to safety and fire risk. The use, possession, or storage of Hoverboards, Swagways, IO Hawks, Skywalkers, and similar devices, are prohibited in all campus residence halls until safety standards for them can be developed and implemented."

Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.: The school doesn’t want students riding their hoverboards in residence halls or Greek housing, but will make arrangements for students to store them elsewhere, according to a Dec. 17 email to students.



Ryan Lasker is a student at George Washington University and a fall 2015 Collegiate Correspondent.

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.