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Introduction

International travel by/with students that is CU Boulder-sponsored, affiliated, funded, or related to a CU Boulder activity/program is subject to the CU Boulder Policy on Student International Travel and Programs.

This policy is subject to the existing CU System policy regarding international travel, which remains in effect. 

Please Note: all travelers are responsible for their own safety and for reviewing all safety and travel guidance; nothing in this policy supplants this responsibility or supersedes applicable releases and waivers or other agreements with the University. 

Policy

1. This CU Boulder International Travel Policy applies to international travel by/with students that is CU Boulder-sponsored, affiliated, funded, or related to a CU Boulder activity/program. The following types of international travel and programs must comply with the requirements detailed below:
   1. Education Abroad programs: All CU Boulder educational programs requiring international travel, including faculty-led courses with a group international travel component, must be operated through . In collaboration with the and the International Risk Committee, Education Abroad provides quality control and risk management to ensure programs have appropriate academic standards, planning, implementation, and oversight.
       
   2. International Travel Registration: All other international travel by/with students that is CU Boulder-sponsored, affiliated, funded, or related to a CU Boulder activity/program must register through the International Travel Registration process. This includes, but is not limited to,  international travel sponsored by or affiliated with CU Boulder or by a CU Boulder student organization, including student organizations registered with the Center for Student Involvement, travel with Residential Academic Programs, international sports competitions, individual research, and conference attendance. Academic/departmental units are responsible for ensuring that faculty, staff, and students affiliated with their unit comply with the International Travel Policy and the International Travel Registration processes and timelines.
       
   3. Exclusions: This policy excludes personal leisure or vacation travel that has no connection to CU Boulder. CU Boulder does not recognize any obligation to support international travel by staff, students, or faculty, which is undertaken strictly for personal reasons and CU Boulder is not responsible for assistance or liability in the event of any adverse consequences resulting from such travel. This policy does not apply to CU students who are also CU employees (i.e. Graduate Research Assistants, etc.) and who travel internationally as part of their CU employment; they should refer to the  for CU employees.
       
2. All students, faculty, and staff who fall within this policy are required to meet risk mitigation standards that include, but are not limited to, enrollment in CU international health insurance and the provision of pre-departure health, safety, and security resources. Education Abroad facilitates this requirement through the following:  
    
   1. Providing access to country-specific information including the , , and  as well as advice on staying healthy and safe while on an international program. 
   2. Instructing travelers on how to register their trip with the . STEP registration allows the appropriate embassy to send information about safety conditions in the destination country and helps the U.S. embassy to contact travelers in an emergency. 
   3. Enrolling travelers in the International SOS Travel Tracker program, ensuring they receive necessary health and safety alerts for the duration of their time abroad. 
   4. Registering students in CU’s international health insurance policy. 
       
3. Programs and travelers subject to this policy must perform a comprehensive risk assessment analysis of their intended travel using the Risk Assessment protocols below and receive the necessary approvals from the International Risk Committee if required. Education Abroad completes this risk assessment on an ongoing basis for all Education Abroad programs. All other travelers are required to complete this assessment as part of the International Travel Registration process. 
    
   1. The outcome of this risk assessment will decide whether the travel can move forward as planned, or whether it must be referred to the CU Boulder International Risk Committee (IRC). The IRC has final authority to approve or deny any international travel subject to this policy. 
   2. The IRC may withdraw approval for international programs at any time based on changes in the security, health or safety situation of a location, or require a re-review of travel plans.

Risk Assessment Protocols

The safety and well-being of students traveling internationally for university purposes is a top priority for CU Boulder. To address emergencies or other events that could jeopardize the security of students while overseas, Education Abroad routinely monitors health, safety, and security abroad. In evaluating whether to run a specific program or location, the following rubric is used. 

1. What are the daily briefings from the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)? OSAC is a division of the US Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security. 
2. What is the U.S. Department of State (DOS) Travel Advisory for the country/region? What does the DOS Crime & Safety Report say?  
3. Is the U.S. embassy open and able to serve U.S. travelers in country? What are the recent U.S. embassy alerts and messages? 
4. What is the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Health Notice? 
5. Is the U.S. Peace Corps operating programs in this destination? 
6. Are there any active evacuation orders for U.S. personnel? 
7. What do other governments (Canada, UK, Australia, etc.) advise with regard to travel to this destination? 
8. How does the International SOS Travel Security team rate this location? 
9. Are students able to enter/exit the destination country (and obtain required visas/entry permits if required)? 
10. What degree of on-site support exists in this destination? 
11. Does Education Abroad have a history of successfully operating programs in this location? 
12. What are the health and safety assessments provided by on-site partners? 

Established September 2015
Updated November 2022