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Learn about best practices for health and safety in study abroad programs, including risk management, emergency preparedness, and liability management from a university perspective.
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InnovativeEducators Study Abroad: Safety, Liability and Risk Management presents… www.innovativeeducators.org Technical Assistance 1.877.295.0100 (US and Canada)
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Study Abroad: Safety, Liability and Risk Management from a University Perspective Natalie A. Mello Director of Global Opportunities Interdisciplinary & Global Studies Division Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Where to start? • Responsible Study Abroad:Good Practices for Health and Safety http://www.nafsa.org/knowledge_community_network.sec/education_abroad_1/education_abroad_2/practice_resources_12/health_safety/guidelines_for_health • Provides general guidelines • Families • Participants • Program Sponsors • Consider this the standard for the profession
Conduct periodic assessments of health and safety conditions for their programs, and develop and maintain emergency preparedness processes and a crisis response plan.
Actions to Take • Establish a risk management team • Publish a handbook for all participants that includes a crisis response plan • Hold training sessions for any campus personnel who are leading excursions of students off campus
Provide health and safety information for prospective participants so that they and their parents/guardians/families can make informed decisions concerning preparation, participation and behavior while on the program.
Comprehensive handbooks • Specific to location • Updated regularly • Send home to families
Provide information concerning aspects of home campus services and conditions that cannot be replicated at overseas locations.
How to Spread the Word • Include in handbook • Train faculty or advisors traveling with students • Mandatory attendance at non-academic issues workshop • Collaborate with professionals in Student Life
Orientations • When: Prior to the program and as needed on site • Information should include • safety • health • legal • environmental • political • cultural • religious conditions in the host country • Additional Information • potential health and safety risks • appropriate emergency response measures • Mandate Orientations • Make sure they are site specific
Consider health and safety issues in evaluating the appropriateness of an individual's participation in a study abroad program. • Involve office of disability services • Inform participants of their responsibility to self-disclose • Have the ability to offer alternative locations if appropriate
Determining criteria for an individual's removal from an overseas program taking into account participant behavior, health, and safety factors. • Publish code of conduct • Include in handbook • Uphold judicial process even while off campus • Publish behavioral expectations beyond the code of conduct
Require that participants be insured. Either provide health and travel accident (emergency evacuation, repatriation) insurance to participants, or provide information about how to obtain such coverage.
Insurance • Be prepared to provide letters verifying participation to insurance companies • Facilitate getting local insurance if necessary • Explain the local health system • Not necessarily a co-pay option, must pay in full at time services rendered • ISIC, Lewer Agency, HTH Worldwide, SOS International, etc.
Conduct appropriate inquiry regarding the potential health and safety risks of the local environment of the program, including program-sponsored accommodation, events, excursions and other activities, on an ongoing basis and provide information and assistance to participants and their parents / guardians / families as needed.
How to Prepare • Local expertise • Site visits • Certificates of insurance • Seek information from recognized sources
Hire vendors and contractors (e.g. travel and tour agents) that have provided reputable services in the country in which the program takes place. Advise such vendors and contractors of the program sponsor's expectations with respect to their role in the health and safety of participants.
Lessons Learned • Sponsor’s (university’s) guidelines & protocols must prevail • Check with colleagues on experience with certain vendors
Conduct appropriate inquiry regarding available medical and professional services. Provide information about these services for participants and their parents/guardians/families, and help participants obtain the services they may need.
Inquiry • Perform inquiry for the best, closest hospitals, dental and mental health facilities • Check with US embassies / consulates for their lists • Publish such information in the handbook • Include maps • Emergency card in local language
Develop and provide health and safety training for program directors and staff, including guidelines with respect to intervention and referral that take into account the nature and location of the study abroad program.
Health and Safety Training • Require attendance at workshops • Involve professionals from Student Life in developing these workshops • Publish handbooks specific for use by university leaders of excursions • Inform of policies, practices and protocols • Can’t uphold, can’t go
Develop codes of conduct for their programs; communicate codes of conduct and the consequences of noncompliance to participants. Take appropriate action when aware that participants are in violation.
Code of Conduct • Publish in handbooks • Enforce these rules! • Don’t publish a policy that the university is unwilling to enforce. • Make the punishment fit the crime • Pay attention to language • “may result in termination” vs “will result in termination”
Obtain current and reliable information concerning heath and safety risks, and provide that information to program administrators and participants.
Health and Safety Risks • Research all available information from reliable, expert sources • Publish such information • State Department • Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) • CDC (Centers for Disease Control) • WHO (World Health Organization) • Other nations’ evaluations (UK, Canada, Australia)
In cases of serious health problems, injury, or other significant health and safety circumstances, maintain good communication among all program sponsors and others who need to know.
Crisis Management • Establish and publish a crisis management plan • Revisit and update regularly • Establish a clear line of communication BEFORE anyone leaves for a site • Wallet cards with emergency numbers • 2 copies to each student
In the participant screening process, consider factors such as disciplinary history that may impact on the safety of the individual or the group. • Screen applicants through Student Life BEFORE anyone is accepted • Get permission from students to do this on the application
Provide information for participants and their parents/guardians/families regarding when and where the sponsor's responsibility ends and the range of aspects of participants' overseas experiences that are beyond the sponsor's control.
Sponsor Responsibilities • Publish all policies about what is expressly forbidden • Publish start and end dates • Address issues of personal decisions
