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Office of Research Security

International Travel

Brief Description

International travel can present compliance, security, and regulatory considerations for Clemson University personnel. Depending on the destination, purpose of travel, research activities, equipment, data, or collaborations involved, travelers may be subject to export control regulations, sponsor requirements, cybersecurity expectations, and other research security obligations. Faculty, staff, and students engaged in regulated research may be subject to additional requirements related to international travel, including certain personal international travel, based on the nature of their research and applicable contract requirements. Review the resources below and contact the Office of Research Security (ORS) with any questions.

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Foreign Travel Security Program

The ORS foreign travel security program ensures awareness of personal responsibilities to properly safeguard U.S. government-funded research information for covered individuals who:

  • Travel to international locations on official business.
  • Embark on personal travel with an electronic device (personal or institutional) that has access to research data.

NOTE: Once a travel authorization (TA) has been submitted for foreign travel related to a sponsored project or internal project, the ORS will be notified and will contact individual travelers to gather additional information, provide a risk assessment, and share security best practices and resources. All other covered individuals who meet one or more of the above criteria will need to contact the ORS directly to initiate the travel support and review process.

The program supports these travelers by:

  • Vetting foreign nationals and foreign entities for research security risks.
  • Ensuring they understand the relevant federal requirements.
  • Recognizing travel concerns and potential threats specific to destination areas.
  • Providing specific guidance to increase travel safety and information security.
  • Providing a reporting mechanism, as required by law, for suspicious activities encountered by the traveler.

Suspicious activity reporting

Covered individuals should notify the Office of Research Security (ORS) as soon as is practical regarding any suspicious activities that occur before, during or after foreign engagements. Suspicious activities may include illicit attempts to recruit or solicit cooperation with a country or entity of concern, or unauthorized attempts to elicit controlled information, etc.