Travel Warnings for International Travel

Despite our confidence in the measures our foreign partners take to enhance student safety and security, we also rely on the alerts and warnings issued by the U.S. Department of State. The Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS) administers the Consular Information Program, which informs the public of conditions abroad that may affect their safety and security. Country specific information, travel alerts and travel warnings are vital parts of this program.

Travel Alerts

The Department of State issues Travel Alerts (travel.state.gov/travel) for short-term events they recommend you know about when planning your travel. Examples of reasons for issuing a Travel Alert might include an election season that is bound to have many strikes, demonstrations, disturbances; a health alert like an outbreak of H1N1; or evidence of an elevated risk of terrorist attacks. When these short-term events are concluded the Department of State may then cancel the alert.

Travel Warnings

A Travel Warning is issued by the Department of State when you should consider very carefully whether you should go to a country at all. Examples might include unstable government, civil war, ongoing intense crime or violence, or frequent terrorist attacks. They want you to know the risks of traveling and to consider not going at this time. Travel Warnings remain in place until the situation changes, and may have been in effect for years.

Circumstances, Under Which BSU May Suspend Participation

BSU may suspend participation for the following reasons:

1. The U.S. Department of State has issued a Travel Warning that specifically directs Americans to leave the country in which the program is located or to forego travel to that country.
2. The U.S. Department of State has issued a Travel Warning that urges Americans to consider carefully the risks of such travel and remain vigilant with respect to their personal health, safety and security if they choose to travel to or within that country, or within a specific region of that country that the Department of State has determined poses particularized risks for American travelers.
3. A "Public Announcement" that warns Americans of significant risks to their health, safety and security traveling to or within the country in which the program is located.
4. The recommendations of BSU faculty who are experts in the sociopolitical dynamics of the country or region in which the program is located.
5. The recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and/or the World Health Organization.
6. The decisions of BSU's exchange partners on whether or not to suspend participation in programs located within the country or region.

NO APPEALS will be considered if the Travel Warning is due to item #1, "directing Americans to leave the country or to forego travel to that country."

Written Appeals to Participate in Suspended Programs will be considered if due to either items #2 or #3 listed above.

Appeals to participate in a suspended study abroad program must be submitted to the Office of Study Abroad by the study abroad application deadline. Written appeals to participate in a suspended study abroad program consist of three parts, included in the application:

1. The student must offer a compelling academic rationale for study in the selected country, and detail why a study program in another country will not advance adequately the academic goals.
2. The student must articulate the steps taken to be informed of the safety and security risks that may be encountered and demonstrate that careful consideration has been taken.
3. The student must print out and read the current U.S. Department of State Travel Warning or Public Announcement for the selected country, initial it, and submit it at the time of the appeal.

The Study Abroad Advisory Committee (SAAC), as well as a faculty member with expertise in the proposed country or region will evaluate written appeals. If the committee denies a student's appeal, that denial shall be final and shall not be reconsidered.

Possible Academic and Financial Loss

The SAAC's granting of a student's appeal to participate does not alter the university's position that study and travel in the country or region may be dangerous. Rather, it indicates that the university recognizes that the student understands and appreciates the risks involved in participation, is willing to assume individual responsibility for those risks, and, for academic reasons, the student has made the choice to participate in spite of such known risks. Furthermore, any student who seeks and is granted an exception to participate in a suspended program or destination shall bare solely and entirely any financial loss or loss of academic credit that may result in the event that the situation in-country deteriorates and either BSU or the U.S. State Department's evaluation of the situation in-country changes, and either BSU or the U.S. State Department, requires that all Americans leave immediately. Likewise, should a student choose to leave the program or destination for any reason prior to the completion of his or her studies, the student shall bear solely and entirely any financial loss or loss of academic credit that may result.

Download Travel Warnings Form

Last Modified: April 13, 2012