Travel to Risk Designated Countries

Travel is highly discouraged and may be restricted to countries with a Tier 5 extreme risk rating. Some of the factors taken into consideration include a Level 4 travel advisory (do not travel) issued by the U.S. Department of State; a Level 3 warning (avoid nonessential travel) issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; risk rating above 4.0 assigned by Drum Cussac. 

Implications for student travel:

• Ohio State does not administer undergraduate education abroad programs in Tier 5 extreme risk countries
• Graduate student education abroad programs require submission of an ITPC Risk Assessment

Undergraduate student travel:

• Restricted

Graduate student travel:

• Requires submission of ITPC Risk Assessment and review and consensus by the ITPC Committee

Travel may be restricted or confined to specific locations and there will be substantial requirements for the safety and security of students, faculty and staff. Some of the factors taken into consideration include countries issued a Level 2 (exercise increased caution) or Level 3 (reconsider travel) or regions issued a Level 4 (do not travel travel advisory by the U.S. Department of State; risk rating of 3.5 - 4 .0 assigned by Drum Cussac.

Implications for student travel:

• Education abroad programming or on-site faculty-led research in Tier 4 High Risk countries requires completion of an ITPC Risk Assessment and is subject to substantial vetting
• Travel must be site specific and only to locations critical to an academic program

Undergraduate student travel:

• Individual undergraduate student and extracurricular travel is restricted

Graduate student travel:

• Individual graduate student travel requires submission of an ITPC Risk Assessment and review and consensus of the ITPC committee

Travel may be limited in country; certain forms of travel and programming may be restricted; some locations may require a higher level of in-country support, accommodations, transportation and logistics for the safety and security of students, faculty and staff. Some of the factors taken into consideration included countries issued a Level 2 (exercise increased caution) or Level 3 (reconsider travel) or regions issued a Level 4 (do not travel) travel advisory by the U.S. Department of State; comprehensive sanctions assigned by the OFAC; risk rating of 3.5 or less assigned by Drum Cussac. 

Implications for student travel:

• Education abroad programming and on-site faculty-led research to Tier 3 Moderate Risk countries requires completion of an ITPC Risk Assessment and is subject to review and consensus of the ITPC committee
• Travel may entail significant safety arrangements including specific on-site support, limitations on travel to specific regions and requirements on accommodations, transportation and other logistics

Undergraduate student travel:

• Individual undergraduate student travel is limited and requires submission of an ITPC Risk Assessment for review and consensus of the ITPC committee
• The risk assessment must include a statement of purpose and articulate relevancy of travel to the country to specific academic objectives
• Due to the diversity of the security profiles of countries in this category, there may be significant variation in approved opportunities between locations

Graduate travel:

• Individual graduate student travel requires submission of an ITPC Risk Assessment and review and consensus of the ITPC committee

Travel to specific geographic locations may be restricted or require significant vetting. Some locations may require a higher level of in-country support, accommodations, transportation and logistics for the safety and security of students, faculty and staff. For areas that demonstrate inadequate healthcare resources, travelers may need to identify competent medical facilities in the area. Some of the factors taken into consideration include countries issued a Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) or Level 2 (exercise increased caution) or regions issued a Level 3 (reconsider travel) or Level 4 (do not travel) travel advisory by the U.S. Department of State; risk rating of 3.5 or higher assigned by Drum Cussac.

Implications for student travel:

• Education abroad programming and on-site faculty-led research to Tier 2 Specific Risk countries requires an initial International Risk Management Itinerary Review
• Objections to the risk management evaluation will require completion of an ITPC Risk Assessment and is subject to review and consensus of the ITPC committee

Undergraduate student travel:

• Individual undergraduate travel requires submission of an International Risk Management Itinerary Review listing all travel destinations in the country
• May restrict or limit travel to specific regions
• Objections to the risk management evaluation will require completion of an ITPC Risk Assessment and is subject to review and consensus of the ITPC committee

Graduate student travel:

• Individual graduate student travel requires submission of an International Risk Management Itinerary Review listing all travel destinations in the country
• May restrict or limit travel to specific regions
• Objections to the risk management evaluation will require completion of an ITPC Risk Assessment and is subject to review and consensus of the ITPC committee

 Tier 2 - Specific Risk Countries

• Laos
• Thailand

Travelers should not assume that travel to Tier 1 destinations is devoid of risk. Hazards such as inadequate medical facilities, ongoing demonstrations and exposure to tropical diseases do not necessarily result in a country being assigned to a higher tier. Travelers to these countries are still advised to read the country specific information at the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory and CDC destination profile prior to travel.