When to Cancel or Alter Study Abroad Programs

When deciding whether to cancel, suspend, or modify an international program for students, rely on an objective factual analysis and the risk tolerance of your K-12 school, college, or university, not solely on media accounts or rumors. 

To research concerns about health, safety, or security issues, consider information from these sources: 

• State Department
• Overseas Security Advisory Council
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• U.S. embassies and consulates
• Law enforcement at the destination 

Many institutions recognize certain events as bellwethers of dangerous conditions, such as: 

• State Department Travel Advisories, including Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”) and Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”)
• CDC Travel Health Notices, including Level 3 (“Reconsider Nonessential Travel”) and Level 4 (“Avoid All Travel”)
• If your school treats particular levels of Travel Advisories or Travel Health Notices as presumptively disqualifying for program continuation, make this clear in your written policy and when communicating with travelers. 

Ideally, a complete risk assessment includes interviews with people and programs “on the ground.” With programs run by third-party providers, talk to the providers’ health, safety, and security liaisons. Also contact peer institutions with travelers in the area to learn what they are experiencing and share intelligence.  

Evaluate information collected through these channels in conjunction with State Department Travel Advisories, CDC Travel Health Notices, and official information received from local embassies or consulates. In addition, some institutions work with International SOS, which provides medical and evacuation assistance to overseas travelers and can likely offer up-to-date information about potentially dangerous conditions.  

Consider Risk Mitigation Options 

Based on your institution’s risk assessment, consider risk mitigation strategies such as:  

• Imposing travel and curfew restrictions
• Mandating enrollment in the State Department’s STEP Program
• Requiring bug spray or nets in areas with mosquito-borne health concerns
• Consulting the country’s national security apparatus
• Requiring travelers to carry a phone or contact card with important emergency numbers 

Remember: Canceling a program is just one option when security conditions change. Program administrators may decide to modify the program to reduce risk and remain, modify it but prepare to leave, or make no changes. 

Communicate Policies and Decisions 

It is crucial to post policies on your institution’s website and clearly communicate before and after international incidents occur.  

Travelers and their families value proactive communication, transparency, and consistency from home institutions and host providers in the event of an emergency. 

Ensure information is easy to find and understand. 

Consider the following information universities post: 

• The University of Maryland's FAQ section discusses the factors used in program cancellation/suspension decisions. 
• Loyola University New Orleans’ policy includes a detailed emergency abroad protocol.
• Iowa State University’s policy outlines committees that analyze risk management and safety concerns when making program cancellation decisions.
• North Carolina State University’s policy explains the difference between recoverable and unrecoverable costs to travelers in the event of program cancellation. 

Finally, if your school cancels or modifies an overseas program for safety reasons, it is key to document the reasons for the decision and who was involved.  

Additional Resources 

Michigan State University: Study Abroad Risk and Security Assessment Committee (RSAC)    

Northwestern University: Emergencies Abroad 

The Forum on Education Abroad: Standards of Good Practice 

NAFSA: Association of International Educators