Approving Travel to High-Risk Destinations

Undergraduate student travel on formal programs will be reviewed during program approval. Informal travel (travel without credit) to High-Risk Destinations requires Vice Provost for International Affairs and Global Strategy (VPIAGS) approval.

1. Review Identifying High-Risk Destinations and determine if the destination country, region, or city has a Level 3 or Level 4 Advisory.
2. For each Level 3 or Level 4 destination, undergraduates request approval following instructions on the Undergraduate Student High-Risk Destination Form. The form must be submitted at least 45 days before departure. Incomplete or inadequate forms will be returned for more information.
3. International Safety and Security reviews the form and, after consulting stakeholders, advises the Vice Provost for International Affairs and Global Strategies (VPIAGS). The VPIAGS makes a final determination for approval or disapproval.
4. International Safety and Security will communicate the decision and rationale to the unit administration and the student.
5. Undergraduate students can appeal to the VPIAGS for reconsideration of disapproval of their travel.

Graduate student travel to High-Risk Destinations at Level 3 requires review by International Safety and Security for risk mitigation strategies. Travel to High-Risk Destinations at Level 4 requires approval by the Vice Provost for International Affairs and Global Strategy (VPIAGS).

1. Review Identifying High-Risk Destinations and determine if the destination country, region, or city has a Level 3 or Level 4 Advisory.
2. For each Level 3 or Level 4 destination, undergraduates request approval following instructions on the Graduate Student High-Risk Destination Form. The form must be submitted at least 30 days before departure. Incomplete or inadequate forms will be returned.
3. For Travel Advisory Level 3 destinations, International Safety and Security reviews the information, consults stakeholders, and provides risk mitigation strategies to the unit and traveler. In rare instances, travel to Level 3 destinations may be disapproved. The VPIAGS will work with the college in making this determination.
4. For Travel Advisory Level 4 destinations, International Safety and Security reviews the information, consults stakeholders, and advises the VPIAGS. Working with the appropriate college administration, the VPIAGS determines approval or disapproval.
5. International Safety and Security will communicate all decisions and risk mitigation strategies to the unit and the traveler.
6. Graduate students can appeal to the VPIAGS for reconsideration of disapproval of their travel.

Formal study abroad programs are reviewed through the university’s program review. All other travel involving three or more students using a similar travel itinerary follows the process below, including Registered Student Organizations and similar organizations.

1. The group identifies an individual to lead the process and coordinate with International Safety and Security. If students are traveling with faculty-staff, the faculty-staff must be involved, even if students lead the process.
2. After reading the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory for each destination, the leader determines if the country, region, or city has a Level 3 or Level 4 Advisory.
3. For each Level 3 or Level 4 destination, the leader completes the Group High-Risk Destination Form. The form must be submitted to International Safety and Security at least 45 days before departure. Incomplete or inadequate forms will be returned.
4. Upon submission of the form, review and approval follows the process for undergraduate or graduate students, based on participant status.

The university will only require approval to Level 4 destinations that present unusual or extreme risk. The Director for International Safety and Security will monitor insurance enrollments and communicate with faculty-staff when such concerns arise. However, faculty and staff should review all destinations to understand more about their travel. This allows better planning.

1. International Safety and Security reviews insurance enrollments. If the Director for International Safety and Security identifies a location of significant concern, they will contact the traveler for more information.
2. After an initial review, the Director determines if the travel needs formal review and approval based on the severity of the risk.
• If no additional information is required, travel proceeds as planned.
• If the Director determines additional information is required, the process below continues.
3. Faculty and staff review the Travel Advisory and other additional resources identified by International Safety and Security. They complete the Faculty-Staff High-Risk Destination Form.
4. Ideally, the form is submitted at least 15 days before departure but it should be submitted as soon as possible. Incomplete or inadequate forms will be returned.
5. International Safety and Security reviews the information and, after consulting with stakeholders, advises the VPIAGS. Working with the appropriate college administration, the VPIAGS determines approval or disapproval.