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INTRODUCTION

The University offers many education abroad opportunities to enrich the educational experience of students. However, these opportunities require careful planning to minimize health and safety risks. For programs that are offered through one of the learning/study abroad offices on each campus, all planning arrangements are handled centrally through these offices. Faculty/staff who offer education abroad opportunities outside a learning/study abroad office must follow the steps outlined below under "College/Faculty/Staff Responsibilities." Each UMTC college is responsible for keeping records of its faculty-led programs. The learning/study abroad office at Duluth, Morris, or Crookston is responsible for keeping records of its faculty-led programs. Students must meet the requirements outlined under the section "Student Responsibilities" prior to participating in any education abroad experience as a University of Minnesota student.

1. College/Faculty/Staff Responsibilities
   1. Stay informed about State Department and governmental health organization travel warnings, and other indicators of health/safety risks in the country/region or area where an education abroad opportunity is planned. Contact the Education Abroad Suspension Committee, through the Office of International Programs, for a decision before offering an opportunity in a location subject to a travel warning. Detailed information on request procedures can be found at the Education opportunities in countries on the State Department warning list page on the Office of International Programs site.
   2. Obtain a signed release and waiver from each student participating in an education abroad opportunity offered by an individual faculty member or unit prior to the students' travel. Retain a copy of the signed waiver in the College's designated location The department or college keeps a copy of the signed waiver, and provide the original signed release and waiver to the learning/study abroad office on campus after all waivers for the program have been collected. These offices will maintain centralized records of University students who are participating in an education abroad opportunity, so the students can be identified and located quickly if necessary for evacuation or other emergency purposes.
   3. Ensure that participating students obtain the required international health insurance before participating in an educational opportunity abroad. If a program or course is offered for a group of students, make arrangements with the learning/study abroad office on campus to obtain health insurance coverage for students and include the cost of the insurance in the program or course fee. If students are traveling independently to fulfill independent study, directed studies or internship requirements, refer the student to the learning/study abroad office on campus so the student can purchase health insurance directly from that office. Document that the students have obtained the required international health insurance coverage.
   4. Designate on-campus contact persons within the main department or college who are available to coordinate with the learning/study abroad office on campus if emergency circumstances arise involving students participating in an education abroad opportunity. Prior to departure, the college and the faculty member develop an evacuation plan to remove a student or group of students from a country if a travel warning or other extenuating circumstances arise. File the plan with the department/college and learning/study abroad office for circumstances when faculty/staff leaders are not available to assist with an emergency. Both the campus office and the faculty/staff leaders traveling with students keep a list of students' emergency contact and insurance information.
2. Student Responsibilities
   1. Stay informed about State Department and governmental health organization travel warnings, and other indicators of health/safety risks in the country/region or area where an education abroad opportunity is planned. Contact the Education Abroad Suspension Committee, through the Learning Abroad Center for a decision before planning an opportunity in a location subject to a travel warning. Detailed information on request procedures can be found at the Education opportunities in countries on the State Department warning list page on the Office of International Programs site.
   2. Read and sign the University of Minnesota Release and Waiver for students participating in education abroad opportunities.
      1. If the opportunity is offered through the campus learning/study abroad office, download the Release & Waiver Form - Learning Abroad Center. After reading and signing the release and waiver form, give the original signed copy of the form to the campus learning/study abroad office. Keep a copy of the signed waiver.
      2. If the opportunity is offered through an individual college, department or faculty member(s), download the Release & Waiver Form. After reading and signing the release and waiver form, give the original signed copy of the form to the college, department or faculty member offering the opportunity. Keep a copy of the signed waiver.
   3. Obtain international health insurance approved by the learning/study abroad office on campus covering the time you are studying abroad. (This coverage is in addition to regular health insurance coverage, needed to cover items such as pre-existing conditions prior to international travel and medical treatment for illness or injury occurring during international travel and requiring continuing attention upon return to the United States.) There are two ways to obtain international health insurance:
      1. For students participating in a program sponsored by the learning/study abroad office on campus, international health insurance already is provided and included in the program fee.
      2. If required international health insurance is not included as part of an education abroad opportunity through an individual faculty or unit, students must purchase the insurance directly from the learning/study abroad office on campus and provide proof of insurance to the home college.