DrakeUniversity Travel Warning Policy
All travel involves risk. As part of Drake University’s efforts to reduce the inherent risk and avoid unnecessary risks, the University discourages travel to countries on the US Department of State Warning (US DOS) Travel Warning List (current warnings may be found at Accordingly, Drake University observes the following policy:
When the U.S. Department of State issues a travel warning for a particular country, Drake University will suspend approval of and terminate all sponsored student travel to that country during the period of time that such Travel Warning is in effect.
This encompasses all international student travel, both credit and non-credit bearing, in which a Drake University affiliated individual or program provides oversight, including short-term faculty-led programs, service learning experiences, internships, and travel for nonacademic or co-curricular purposes. A list of Drake-affiliated programs is available at Note that student financial aid cannot be used for travel to countries with a travel warning.
In the case of Drake students who have received formal approval to participate in a program location prior to the issuance of a Travel Warning, the approval will be suspended until such time as the Travel Warning has been lifted.
If a Travel Warning is issued while a student is participating in a Drake University affiliated program that is already in progress in an affected area, that program will be terminated under the guidance and direction of the Department of State, risk assessment personnel in the International Programs Office, the program director, host and/or provider. If the student is participating in a non-Drake University program, decisions for termination will be made by the host institution, in concert with the Department of State, program director, host and/or provider. If an evacuation or departure order is issued by the U.S. Department of State, evacuation of students will occur under the direction of the American Embassy in that region.
It is the student’s responsibility to be informed of appropriate refund policies for their program, should a program be suspended or cancelled due to the issuance of a Travel Warning.
Flight connection in countries with a travel warning are allowed. Program participants will not be allowed to travel within that country or leave the airport.
Policy Exemptions
It is recognized that Travel Warnings are not always specific. Different regions of a country may present very different situations. Specific travel programs present different risk profiles. Given that no overseas program, anywhere, is automatically “safe,” Drake University needs a way to respond to the information conveyed in Travel Warnings.
Exemptions to the Policy may be granted by the Provost upon the recommendation of the Risk Assessment Committee. A faculty or staff member who wants to sponsor a program or a student wishing to participate in a non-Drake University program in a country under a US DOS Travel Warning may submit a Petition for Exemption from the Drake University Travel Warning Policy to the Risk Assessment Committee. Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. After review of the petition, the Committee will submit a recommendation to the Provost. The decision of the Provost will be final.
Procedure
The request for an exception should be submitted to the Chair of the Risk Assessment Committee and address the following:
• The nature and logistics of the proposed travel and the local support structure, including information on the program organizers (from Drake or the host institution, government agency, or NGO)
• The geographic, cultural, and political environment of the proposed travel and its relationship to safety and security issues in the country concerned (include modes of travel, routing, other details, and maps);
• Procedures for keeping track of students’ whereabouts and communicating this to Drake (e.g. housing information, in-country contacts, mobile telephones, and the emergency contact protocol to be followed by the individual and/or onsite contacts and Drake personnel);
• An emergency response plan for dealing with crisis situations on the program site;
• An evacuation plan for moving program participants off the site (identifying key decision makers and how resulting plans will be funded);
• A communication plan for how program leaders or a student’s supervisor will monitor and report situations to Drake University officials during the period of travel;
• Details of how faculty or other program supervisors (affiliated and not affiliated with Drake) will be instructed in these procedures;
• The importance of the experience for the individual students or program participants, particularly with respect to its importance in their degree program, and why no other country can provide a similar experience;
•Other relevant information associated with a specific request for an exception to the travel warning policy.
Further steps
If the Petition is approved, students must sign the High Risk Travel Waiver/Release Form, assuming all the risks and releasing the University from any future liability for his or her personal choice. If a travel warning is issued between the final risk assessment review and departure, and an exemption is granted, student have the option to withdraw. For students who withdraw, a refund amount will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
The student remains responsible for providing his or her own health insurance, as well for the emergency insurance for evacuation and repatriation purposes.
This Policy and Exemption Procedures are in effect as of 2/17.
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