Travel Risk Monitoring and Assessment
The health, safety and security of students and faculty traveling abroad is a top priority at Ohio State. The Office of International Affairs’ Global Health and Safety team tracks and reviews health, safety and security issues that have potential for impacting Ohio State travelers. Global Health and Safety team monitors world events, news reports, U.S. Department of State (USDOS) travel information and advisories, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel health notices, in addition to the information provided by the university’s security partner, Crisis24.
Prior to booking or engaging in travel, all Ohio State travelers should familiarize themselves with current travel risk ratings and advisories posted by the USDOS and Crisis24.
Travelers should always monitor advisories for their intended location by registering in the USDOS Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
Further information about the university’s travel guidelines can be accessed at the Office of Business and Finance website.
Student Travel to Elevated-Risk Destinations
Student travel to locations with elevated travel advisories or sanctions may require university approval and special considerations.
A health, safety and risk review and pre-travel approval are always required for Ohio State student travel when:
- A USDOS Level 3 or 4 Travel Advisory is in effect for the country or location.
- A CDC Travel Health Notice (THN) of Level 3 or 4 is in effect for the country or location.
- A Crisis24 risk rating of 3.25 (undergraduate students) or 3.5 (graduate students) is in effect for the country or region.
- U.S. government export control regulations impact the country, location, or local partner
Petitions are assessed by the International Travel Review Committee (ITRC). Approvals are granted on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Provost’s Office. Specifically, this applies to:
- Students participating in an OIA or non-OIA individual academic or co-curricular international travel that’s supported by the university.
- Start a travel registration and follow the instructions from the Global Health and Safety team for the ITRC assessment process.
- The ITRC approval process evaluates the academic value of travel balanced with current health, safety and security conditions of the intended destination.
- OIA or other university group program travel.
- Approvals are granted on the program level. Resident directors will work directly with Global Education and the Global Health and Safety team on the risk assessment and appropriate approvals. Students do not need to seek individual approvals