Managing Liability in Business and Academic Operations: Understanding and Managing the Risks of Short-Term International Programs

Short-term international programs are popular among college students. But many aspects of these programs create unique risks for faculty and staff who lead them and students who participate in them ─ including the possibility of serious accidents or injuries. This report seeks to help institutions identify and manage the many and varied risks associated with short-term international programs before, during, and after the program.

• About 70% of the more than 220,000 American students who studied abroad during 2005 and 2006 chose short-term programs.
• A sound risk management program for short-term study abroad programs begins at home with policies and procedures that cover all aspects of the activity, including a formal approval process for short-term program proposals.
• An institution’s written policies should identify the campus officials who have the authority to determine when and how faculty and staff can establish short-term study programs abroad, and where students can travel on institutionally sponsored programs.