Prioritizing Health and Safety Abroad
Health and safety are central to studying abroad and travel in today’s complex, interconnected world.
St. Edward’s University and the Study Abroad Office prioritize our community’s safety and have implemented several measures to ensure it. When our students participate in a study abroad, they receive detailed health and safety information tailored to their program and destination.
Travel Approval
Safety conditions around the world change daily, from natural disasters and political unrest to pandemics and terrorism. To stay updated with the most current and relevant safety information, the Study Abroad Office receives daily security reports from various sources, including the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. State Department, and the Canadian, British, and Australian government sources.
St. Edward’s University has a dedicated Emergency Response and Risk Management Team that oversees all approved international travel by all university community members.
International Medical and Travel Assistance Insurance
All St. Edward’s community members traveling internationally must have comprehensive international medical and travel assistance insurance. Students participating in study abroad programs will receive insurance through their program provider.
Those studying with a partner university or on a faculty-led program will be covered under the university’s partnership with CHUBB-AXA Global Travel Assistance. The plan covers all medical emergencies and conditions, as well as travel assistance, including evacuations for medical or political reasons. Note: Travel assistance is not travel insurance and does not cover lost or damaged luggage, missed flights, etc.
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
All students, faculty and staff who are American citizens and travel abroad as part of a university-approved trip or program are required to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Plan (STEP) through U.S. State Department. This is a free service with online enrollment and alerts the U.S. Embassy of the traveler's presence in the host country so they can better assist in the event of an emergency. Students, faculty, and staff of other nationalities are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with their country’s consular services in their host country.
Pre-Departure and On-Site Orientations
All students studying abroad are provided with a program COMPASS (Comprehensive Online Management Portal for Accepted Students) that gives them a wealth of information and resources about preparing for their study abroad experience and making the most of their program and host destination. The information in the Compass focuses primarily on St. Edward's University study abroad policies and practices and is intended to complement the more destination-specific information provided to students by their program. Before departing for their study abroad program, all students have an in-person pre-departure orientation on campus. Once students arrive at their program, they will receive an on-site orientation which will give them all the information and resources they need locally to support them throughout their time away.
Student Conduct
When studying abroad from campus, St. Edward’s University expects students to uphold and embrace the same standards of conduct that are required on the home campus, with additional attention given to cultural norms and sensitivities abroad. All SEU students studying abroad must read and sign a Code of Conduct as part of their online study abroad application approval. The university takes this Code of Conduct very seriously and will take all measures necessary to ensure that students are respected and safe, including disciplinary action and expulsion from a program if necessary. The expectations that we have for our study abroad students are outlined in the Code of Conduct section of their online study abroad application.
Emergency Response and Risk Management Teams
St. Edward’s University maintains a dedicated Emergency Response and Risk Management Team that provides oversight of all international travel by university community members. The team is comprised of key individuals across campus from a variety of offices to support the multifaceted and complicated safety situations that can arise overseas. In the event of an emergency, and depending on the type of emergency, some or all team members will come together as needed to put a plan into action.
On-call 24/7 Emergency Support
The Study Abroad Office is open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. but staff is available to students and travelers 24/7. Partner universities, program providers, and students confirmed to study abroad will be provided with an on-call cell number. Additionally, the Study Abroad Office staff can be reached at any time by calling the St. Edward’s University Campus Safety.