I. Introduction
The College for Creative Studies (CCS) is committed to developing global partnerships, increasing international diversity on campus, and providing international study opportunities for students.
The College and the individual travelers have a responsibility for promoting health, safety, and security while traveling abroad. This policy defines institutional requirements that promote safety during international travel.
Individual travelers are responsible for compliance with this international travel policy. Academic departments and College offices sponsoring CCS Related Travel (defined below) are responsible for informing travelers of this international travel policy and for facilitating compliance for individuals where appropriate.
This International Travel Policy outlines the College’s requirements for CCS related travel abroad.
II. Definitions
This section defines four terms used in this document: Travel Abroad, CCS Managed or Organized travel, CCS Related Travel, and Group Travel Abroad.
- Travel Abroad: destinations outside the Fifty States of the United States of America and the District of Columbia. Travel to U.S. territories (including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the United States Minor Outlying Islands) and journeys on the High Seas are also considered travel abroad.
- CCS Managed or Organized Travel: An international experience managed or organized by a CCS department/office, faculty or staff member. Managed and organized includes: creating, funding, instructing, or approving the experience, or coordinating the applications and selection of participants.
- CCS Related Travel: is defined in terms of two traveler roles:
- CCS Faculty or Staff
Faculty or staff members who are traveling abroad within the context of their job responsibilities are considered to be on CCS Related Travel. If faculty or staff members receive CCS funds or CCS managed funds for travel or if they are representing CCS even if funded by an international partner or third-party entity, they are considered to be on CCS Related Travel. While a trip might include personal activities outside of the traveler’s job responsibilities, if the primary purpose is work-related the trip is CCS Related Travel. - Student
Participants in Travel Abroad can include both individuals enrolled as students at CCS, but also individuals not enrolled as CCS students who participate in a CCS program; such persons are designated Students within this policy. A person traveling in a Student participant role who meets one or more of the following criteria is on CCS Related Travel:- Receives CCS academic credit for the experience.
- Travels on a program or trip that is CCS Managed or Organized.
- Travels on a program or trip organized by Student Affairs or a program or trip that is formally sanctioned by a CCS department or office as a Sponsored Event.
- Receives funding from CCS or receives funds managed by CCS for their travel.
- Group Travel Abroad:
a cohort of CCS student participants with similar program experience
dates, itinerary, related activities at the destination, and identical or related accommodations, for whom an organizer or leader is assuming some
responsibility. There is significant interdependence of participants within the
cohort.
- CCS Faculty or Staff
III. Policy
A. CCS International Travel Registry
The CCS International Travel Registry is a confidential and secure database for maintaining key travel information for faculty, staff and students traveling abroad. The Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services, and Associate Provost for Academic Affairs are responsible for the overall management of the CCS International Travel Registry.
The CCS International Travel Registry is the official source of traveler information for locating and communicating with travelers, responding to emergencies, and managing media and public relations during critical incidents abroad. It also serves as the central source of travel abroad data for institutional reporting.
All faculty, staff, and students traveling abroad for CCS Related Travel must register their travel in the CCS International Travel Registry before the expected departure date. Whenever possible, travelers are expected to update the registration, including travel dates, destinations, and on-site contact information, if updated information becomes available.
Individual travelers are responsible for verifying their travel registration through either self-registration or coordination with their sponsoring units. Departments/Offices sponsoring CCS Related Travel are responsible for informing travelers of this travel registration requirement.
The travel registry can be accessed at:
B. Travel Abroad Health Insurance
All students, staff and faculty traveling abroad for CCS or affiliated with CCS are required to have travel abroad health insurance coverage from the College’s authorized vendor, regardless of whether the Student traveler has other health care coverage. Student travelers are responsible for verifying travel abroad health insurance coverage either through self-enrollment or coordination with their sponsoring units. Group leaders are responsible for informing their students and participants of this insurance requirement.
*CCS will accept the following plans
C. Emergency Evacuation Insurance and Support
All Students, Faculty and Staff traveling abroad for or affiliated with CCS must carry insurance that covers emergency evacuation due to political unrest or natural disaster.
The college may evacuate or cancel travel at any time before, or during a program due to emergency situations. In making the decision to evacuate a person or group, the Office of Global Engagement consults the Travel Risk Committee. Evacuation support relies on CCS faculty, staff, and students to register their travel.
Students who remain in-country after being advised to evacuate will not be eligible for college funding or academic credit related to the travel experience and may be subject to disciplinary action.
*The plans outlined above carry evacuation insurance. Please inquire when enrolling to be certain the additional coverage is added.
D. High Risk Destination Travel
The College will conduct reviews and designate locations as High Risk Destinations.
The Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services (students) or the employee’s Vice President will make the final determination on this designation, upon consultation with the Travel Risk Committee. This designation may occur at any time before, or during an international trip. The College will not approve CCS related travel to destinations where health, safety, or security risks are determined to be significant and require unusual caution and risk mitigation strategies. For example, travel to destinations experiencing serious outbreaks of infectious disease, war or violent civil unrest. Students may not travel for or affiliated with CCS to destinations that are under a High Risk designation.
To submit an appeal for travel to these destinations, please follow the separate policy for Student Travel to High Risk Destinations or Employee Travel to High Risk Destinations.
E. Incident Reporting Requirements
While traveling abroad affiliated with CCS, individuals should promptly report conduct that may violate College policies including: TITLE IX, student or staff conduct violations, or crimes. Individuals are encouraged to report incidents that may violate criminal law to both the College and to local law enforcement. These processes are not mutually exclusive.
Related Policies
Study Abroad Policy
Roles and Responsibilities for Faculty Led Study Abroad Programs Guideline
Faculty Led Study Abroad Program Approval Policy and Procedure
Protecting CCS Students Studying Abroad
High Risk Destination Travel Policy
Reporting Criminal and other Serious Incidents
Chaperone Policy
Title IX