Rhodes' Policy for the Department of State Travel Advisory Levels
Rhodes strongly encourages its students, faculty and staff who are contemplating travel abroad for educational or other purposes to plan well in advance and to take precautions to ensure a safe trip. All travelers should familiarize themselves with political, health, crime, and other safety-related conditions prevailing in any country and specific locations within the country(ies) to be visited. A review of these conditions should be performed by viewing web-based information provided by the U.S. Department of State as well as information provided by various other cognizant agencies and governments.
Additionally, the College recommends that its students and their parents consult the comprehensive website offered by GeoBlue (see Global Health and Safety), a private travel emergency assistance provider engaged by Rhodes to support students who are traveling internationally. This site provides up-to-date information about travel risks of many kinds.
The following provisions apply to all Rhodes students who intend to study abroad or participate in any travel abroad sponsored or funded by Rhodes, or in connection with a trip abroad by a recognized student organization or institution affiliated with the College:
All Rhodes students have primary responsibility for their own safety when traveling internationally, whether or not their travel abroad is funded or sponsored by Rhodes or is accorded credit by Rhodes. Before departure, all students traveling abroad to participate in an internship, undertake research, study abroad in a Rhodes or affiliated program, or participate in a recognized student organization or athletic trip abroad, as individuals or in groups, must provide the College with a statement in a form provided by the College, acknowledging their understanding of the risks of such travel, affirming that they have reviewed and understand the relevant safety-related materials, and stating that they are assuming the risks related to their international travel. Students under the age of 18 must obtain a parental/guardian signature on the form. All student international travel must be pre-approved by the Director of International Programs.
Countries, or areas within a country, placed on the U.S. State Department Travel Warning List fall into one of two levels of severity. Rhodes will not grant or award credit, funding, support or otherwise sponsor any international academic or co-curricular project in any country, or area within a country, for which the U. S. State Department has issued the more severe warning. These include locations for which the U.S. State Department has:
- Issued a travel warning that orders departure of U.S. dependents and non-emergency personnel;
- Recommended that U.S. citizens depart the country;
- Advised U.S. citizens against all travel to the country; or
- Recommended that U.S. citizens defer non-essential travel to the country.
Additionally, Rhodes students are strongly advised to use caution when traveling to countries for which theU.S. State Department has issued a lesser warning levels or alerts, such as, for example, when the U.S. State Department has:
- Warned U.S. citizens of the (risks, danger, or potential risks or danger) of travel to the country;
- Urged U.S. citizens to evaluate carefully their security and safety before traveling to the country;
- Warned or cautioned U.S. citizens to consider the risks of travel to the country;
- Cautioned U.S. citizens to take prudent security measures;
- Urged or warned U.S. citizens to weigh the necessity of travel to the country; or
- Urged U.S. citizens to exercise extreme caution.
Travel to any country or area for which the U.S. Department of State has issued a lesser warning must have a Petition to Travel to a Warning Listed Country completed and approved in writing by the Director of International Programs and the Dean of the Faculty at least 60 days prior to departure.