Policy Regarding U.S. Department of State Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings and Study Abroad Programs
Clemson University is committed to developing a wide variety of international study, research and work opportunities for students; however, the university recognizes that there are situations in which personal security issues may outweigh the advantages of exposure to international experiences. The Office of International Affairs monitors information relevant to the safety of all Clemson students abroad, from official sources as well as from our domestic and international partners and colleagues. The safety and security of Clemson students abroad is of the utmost importance to us. We work to ensure that students can make informed and wise decisions regarding program selection as well as their behavior abroad. Evaluation of security issues includes monitoring the United States Department of State's travel alerts and travel warnings. (See page 2 for an explanation of the Department's reporting system concerning overseas travel.)
The following policies apply to Clemson administered, exchange and co-sponsored programs in regard to U.S. Department of State travel alerts and travel warnings:
Travel Warnings: Clemson University will not send students to any country for which a U.S. Department of State Travel Warning has been issued. In the event that a program has already commenced and students are currently in the country to which the travel warning applies, Clemson University, working with the on-site program director and/or other appropriate contacts, will provide students the opportunity to return to the United States. Clemson University in consultation with the on-site program director, other on-site contacts, the U.S. Department of State, U.S. consulates or embassies, appropriate Clemson University administrators, and other experts who are well-informed on issues related to the country will decide whether the entire program should be cancelled.
Travel Alerts (Previously known as Public Announcements): Clemson University will review any Travel Alerts issued by the U.S. Department of State for specific regions or countries where security issues are a concern. Decisions in regard to sending or withdrawing students from areas with Travel Alerts in effect will be made in the context of current world situations and after consulting with responsible officials of foreign host universities or overseas providers, the U.S. Department of State, appropriate Clemson University administrators, and other experts who are well-informed on issues related to the region in question.
Travel Alerts generally indicate that a specific threat has been received by the embassy or that the department has concluded that there might be a threat to U.S. citizens because of recent political events in that country or the U.S. In most cases these threats are not realized, and most importantly, are not likely to cause difficulties for our students and faculty if they exercise reasonable caution.
Other Situations: Clemson University also reserves the right to cancel any program when we believe that the security or health of students may be threatened, even if the United States Department of State has not yet issued a travel warning or a travel alert.
Affiliated or Non-Clemson Programs. Clemson University strongly discourages students from participating in affiliated or non-Clemson programs in countries under a State Department travel warning. Clemson will not provide support services that Clemson students going abroad normally receive. That is, Clemson will not register the students for the time they are abroad nor will they authorize access to financial aid for the program. While we anticipate that students may leave Clemson to participate in a non-Clemson program and later seek transfer credit for their work, we reiterate that Clemson University discourages this course of action. A student's decision to do so is wholly voluntary and not the responsibility of Clemson University.
The following information is provided to participants regarding the range of aspects of participants' overseas experiences that are beyond Clemson University's control.
Clemson University CAN NOT:
- guarantee or assure the safety of participants or eliminate all risks from the study abroad environment.
- monitor or control all of the daily personal decisions, choices, and activities of individual participants.
- prevent participants from engaging in illegal, dangerous or unwise activities.
- assure that U.S. standards of due process apply in overseas legal proceedings or locate, provide or pay for legal representation for participants.
- assume responsibility for the actions of persons not employed or otherwise engaged by Clemson University for events that are not part of the program; or that are beyond the control of Clemson University and its subcontractors; or for situations that may arise due to the failure of a participant to disclose pertinent information.
- assure that home-country cultural values and norms will apply in the host country.
U.S. Department of State Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings:
The Department of State has developed a set of reports designed to inform travelers of potential risks. This system of reporting is more fully explained below. The following information is taken from the United States Department of State website (see: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html):
Country Specific Information Sheets are available for every country of the world. They include such information as location of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the subject country, unusual immigration practices, health conditions, minor political disturbances, unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties. If an unstable condition exists in a country that is not severe enough to warrant a Travel Warning, a description of the condition(s) may be included under an optional section entitled "Safety/Security." On limited occasions, the Safety/Security section may restate any U.S. Embassy advice given to official employees. Country Specific Information Sheets generally do not include advice, but present information in a factual manner so the traveler can make his or her own decisions concerning travel to a particular country.
Travel Alerts are a means to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions that pose significant risks or disruptions to Americans. They are made when there is a specific threat that cannot be countered. In the past, Travel Alerts have been issued to deal with short-term coups, violence by terrorists and anniversary dates of specific terrorist events.
Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Travel Warnings are issued to describe long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable. A Travel Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government's ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff.
5 March 2007
Last revised & reviewed by university counsel: Jan. 2008