Suspension of Official UConn Study Abroad Programs

UConn has over 200 officially approved study abroad programs across the globe. The University has approved these programs, in part, on the basis of knowledgeable and seasoned program personnel that are stationed in-country; the sound and proven program infrastructures that these personnel have in place; and the due care and attention that these personnel devote to enhancing the safety and security of U.S. students.

In spite of our confidence in the measures our foreign partners take to enhance student safety and security, from time to time the University finds it advisable to suspend participation in an officially recognized study abroad program or destination due to political unrest, social instability, contagious disease control, military operations, or terrorism concerns within the host country.  The programs that have currently been suspended are:

• Israel
• Kenya

Circumstances Under Which UConn May Suspend Participation

UConn, in its discretion, may suspend participation in an officially approved study abroad program or destination for any of 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 either:
   1. a "Travel Warning" that urges Americans traveling to or within the country in which the program is located 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; or

   2. 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.

Based on all relevant information, UConn, in its discretion, may deem it advisable to suspend participation. In reaching such a decision, UConn will consider several factors which may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. the recommendations of UConn faculty who are experts in the sociopolitical dynamics of the country or region in which the program is located;
2. the recommendations of private security firms with personnel stationed in-country;
3. the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and/or the World Health Organization; and
4. the decisions of UConn's peer institutions on whether or not to suspend participation in programs located within the country or region.

If UConn has suspended participation in an officially approved study abroad program or destination due to the first reason listed above, namely that 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, no student appeal to participate in the suspended program will be heard. However, if UConn has suspended participation in an officially approved study abroad program or destination due to either due to either reasons 2a or 2b listed above listed above, students may appeal in writing for a special permission to participate in the suspended program.

Written Appeals to Participate in Suspended Programs

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, outlining how study in only that country will advance her/his academic goals and aid her/him in the pursuit of her/his UConn degree, and detailing why a study program in another country will not advance adequately the academic goals s/he has outlined.

2. the student must articulate what steps s/he has taken to inform her/himself of the safety and security risks that study in the selected country may pose and demonstrate that s/he has considered such risks in a thoughtful and deliberative manner.
   
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.

A committee composed of Director of Study Abroad, the Chair of the Study Abroad Advisory Committee (SAC), 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 committee'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 bear 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 UConn or the U.S. State Department's evaluation of the situation in-country changes and either UConn or the U.S. State Department, based on reason 1 as described above, 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.

Approved December 2005

Updated April 13, 2006