Travel to University Travel Advisory Countries

I. Scope

This policy applies to all undergraduate and graduate student, faculty and staff travel sponsored, organized, supported or recognized by the College of William & Mary, including the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (the university).  Travel is sponsored, organized, supported, or recognized by the university when any of the following occurs:

• It is funded by the university, whether through public or private funds; 
• It is part of a university international program – a program organized and administered by the university;
• It is part of a program or trip administered by another institution or organization under an agreement with William & Mary;
• Students receive university academic credit for courses taken during the travel; or
• It is organized by the university, such as trips organized and led by members of the faculty, acting in their official capacity.

This policy does not cover student travel that is outside W&M’s institutional auspices, including non-W&M spring break travel or travel between semesters.  It also does not apply to personal travel taken prior or after to or during travel covered by this policy, such as a weekend trip taken by a student participating in a semester abroad program.  Students are responsible for all costs and risks associated with such travel, including for emergencies, evacuations, and missed program expenses. Travel to countries where William & Mary has determined to be a travel advisory country even during independent breaks during an approved international program may, however, jeopardize a student’s continued participation in the program.

II. Purpose

The university strongly supports internationalization initiatives including international travel by students. The university also recognizes the risks to safety and security of students engaging in such travel, particularly the risks outlined by the William & Mary country rankings when a country rises to what the International Travel Review Committee determines to be a travel advisory.   This policy establishes the circumstances under which students, faculty and staff travel to countries subject to a W&M travel advisory is permitted.

III. Policy

A. Prior Approval for Travel to a W&M Travel Advisory Required

Without receiving prior approval through a special review process by the University International Travel Review Committee (the ITRC), undergraduate and graduate students will not be able to transfer credit, register for study abroad, participate in university-affiliated travel, or use university-based funding for travel to a country deemed high risk/restricted by William & Mary.  Approvals are granted by the ITRC. Appeals will be determined by the Vice Provost for International Affairs.

Undergraduate students should contact the Vice Provost for International Affairs or the Director of Global Education at the Reves Center for additional information on how to petition for approval to travel on a College-related program in a country under a W&M Travel Advisory.

The ITRC includes the Vice Provost for International Affairs, the International Travel and Security Manager (chair), the Director of Global Education, and the University Compliance and Policy Officer, in consultation with University Counsel and the relevant academic Dean(s).  In addition, the ITRC will invite appropriate members of the William & Mary faculty with relevant regional expertise to provide their views on all proposals it considers.  The committee will consider the following factors in assessing undergraduate students’ individual and group petitions and making its decision on whether or not to support the travel:

•  The level of warning and specific details of the University Travel Advisory as this information relates to the student’s travel;

• Any federal regulations affecting William & Mary support for the proposed program abroad;
• Recommendations and warnings from expert faculty;
• Security briefings and limitations to evacuation coverage by a contracted security company;
• The academic and personal preparation of the student(s) applying for travel to a W&M high risk/restricted country, including prior language study, regional studies, international experiences, and preparatory actions;
• The level of onsite support to handle emergencies. Emergency preparation includes information about the specific destination, mode of daily transportation, emergency response plans, and responsiveness and emergency plans by onsite coordinators;
• The academic or service learning necessity of such travel at this time.

B. Elevation of a Country to W&M University Travel Advisory Issued After Student Departure

Should a country be elevated while a student, faculty or staff are already in the subject country, the International Travel Review Committee will convene to assess the situation and make appropriate recommendations and decisions based on concerns for the safety and security of student participants. Depending on the above-defined factors, the ITRC may recommend immediate departure and suspension of the program (if applicable).

III. Approval and Interpretation

This policy was approved by the Provost.  The Provost amended the policy effective August 1, 2018 in response to changes in the State Department Travel Warning System. Questions regarding the application of this policy can be answered by the Vice Provost for International Affairs.