University of Pittsburgh International Travel Guidelines for Students

University of Pittsburgh International Travel Guidelines for Students

Last Updated October 2023

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to strengthening our international engagement. It encourages international activities by its student body and strives to develop more opportunities for international study and research. At the same time, the University is aware that sometimes international activities carry additional risk as countries around the world are affected by war, terrorism, political unrest, disease, and natural catastrophes. The University aims to balance the importance and benefits of participating in international educational activities against the potential risk to its students. For this purpose, the University of Pittsburgh relies on the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisories System to guide decision-making regarding student, faculty, and staff travel overseas, along with other sources of information such as advisories from the Overseas Security Advisory Council and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and advisories and alerts from International SOS, the university's duty of care provider. More customized information may be provided to those proposing programming or intending to travel with specific high-risk concerns of intended travel destination(s) via Advanced Risk Assessment (ARA) Process.  

I. U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisories

According to the U.S. Department of State, “Travel Advisories follow a consistent format and use plain language to help U.S. citizens find and use important security information. Travel Advisories apply up to four standard levels of advice, describe the risks, and provide clear actions U.S. citizens should take to help ensure their safety.” The categories are: 1. Exercise Normal Precautions, 2. Exercise Increased Caution, 3. Reconsider Travel, and 4. Do Not Travel. Full details regarding the updated system are available at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go.html

These guidelines help frame the University of Pittsburgh’s approach to governing educational, research and service activities in countries for which the U.S. Department of State has issued certain Travel Advisories. However, it is not the only factor that is used to determine eligibility for individual study abroad and group study abroad program development therein. As outlined in the University of Pittsburgh risk matrix and operational procedure below, individual travel and proposed study abroad programs may be subject to a deeper review process called the Advanced Risk Assessment (ARA) depending on the level of the destination country. The ARA will utilize data from but not limited to the OSAC, CDC, International SOS, and individual intelligence from partners and vendors on the ground to produce a clearer picture of the risk, health, safety, and security concerns. Several factors will form the basis of a 1-2 page written report. These factors include but are not limited to crime rates, CIGNA/ISOS coverage and indemnification, policy that may exclude or endanger specific individuals or groups, etc. Countries that fall into Levels 2, 3, and 4 shall undergo an ARA prior to program or individual travel approval.

Students must follow these guidelines if they are to earn credits for their study abroad program, international internship experience, independent research, or other overseas educational experience and/or use scholarship or other University funds in support for the experience. The University of Pittsburgh offers a robust menu of global programming offerings including but not limited to:

  1. Panther Programs – Pitt-developed study abroad offerings leveraging Pitt’s own faculty to provide instruction. These programs may also include a partnership with a vendor or host institution abroad. GEO regularly offers roughly 100 of these program options each year. Prior to operating one of these programs, a full logistical proposal must be approved by the GRHSS.
  2. Pitt-Recognized Programs – Programs in this category are offered by a collection of vendors and/or host institutions abroad. While Pitt permits students to utilize these programs, it does not vet or approve their logistics, but instead puts the onus on the student to take responsibility for their decision to choose a program in this category.
  3. Exchange Programs – Pitt does offer a small menu of bilateral exchanges for which Pitt has formal, bilateral exchange agreements. As part of the vetting process for a bilateral exchange, logistics are outlined and approved by the GRHSS.
  4. Independent Research, Internships, and Projects – Pitt recognizes that some students want and need to engage in programming to enhance their degree through independent research, internships, and projects. Students who choose to engage in these activities are expected to outline their logistics prior to travel. Depending on the level of the host country, these logistics are then approved through the GRHSS.

 

 

II. Risk Matrix and Advanced Risk Assessment Process 

 

State Dept.

Safety/Security

Health

Logistics

Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

Low risk related to theft/petty crime. Low risk of violent crime, geopolitical instability, terrorism, for foreign travelers

ISOS/Cigna coverage and indemnification applicable. Medical standards comparable to US.

High-quality, reliable, and established HSS vendor partner and/or U to U relationships

Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Low/moderate risk related to theft/petty crime. Low/moderate risk of violent crime, geopolitical instability, terrorism, for foreign travelers

 

ISOS/Cigna coverage and indemnification applicable. Medical standards may differ from the US in terms of access and quality.

Established HSS vendor partner and/or U to U relationships, but may not be of the same reliability and quality as level 1

Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Moderate risk related to theft/petty crime. Moderate risk of violent crime, geopolitical instability, terrorism, for foreign travelers

 

ISOS/Cigna coverage and indemnification; medical evacuation may be standard for higher level care. Medical standards may not be comparable to US

May not have established HSS partnerships through existing vendors and U to U relationships

Level 4:
Do Not Travel

Moderate/high risk of theft/petty crime, violent crime, geopolitical instability, terrorism, for foreign travelers

ISOS/Cigna coverage and indemnification may not be applicable; medical evacuation may be standard for higher level care. Medical standards will likely not be comparable to US in terms of access and quality

 

Will likely not have established HSS partnerships through existing vendors and U to U relationships

 

Please note that countries at level 3 will require an ARA process and review/approval by the GRHSS for both individual travel as well as proposed study abroad programs.

Level 4: Undergraduate travel is not permitted. Study abroad programming bearing the University of Pittsburgh’s name (i.e. Pitt in XYZ country) is not permitted. Graduate travel is not prohibited but must pass through an exemption process that will include an ARA protocol and review/approval from the GRHSS.

III. Undergraduate Student Travel 

All Undergraduate level students at the University of Pittsburgh, who wish to travel as affiliated with the University (i.e. to earn course credit, conduct research, complete an internship or service-learning project) through any of the aforementioned program categories to any destination abroad, must notify the Pitt Global Experiences Office, even if they are not part of an official PittGEO program. Additionally, all undergraduate students must complete all required forms as issued by PittGEO, prior to departure.

Undergraduate travel is not permitted to locations designated as Level 4 in the Travel Advisories System.

Level 1

Undergraduate students who wish to travel to countries listed as level 1 in the Travel Advisories System should plan to progress through their normal application and post-acceptance procedures including registering their travel through the PittGEO as well as through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP: https://step.state.gov/step/). Undergraduate students traveling to level 1 countries should read the advisories and follow the instructions listed therein and in pre-departure orientation materials. No ARA protocol is required.

Level 2

Undergraduate students who wish to travel to countries listed as level 2 in the Travel Advisories System should progress through their normal application and post-acceptance procedures including registering their travel through International SOS as well as through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP: https://step.state.gov/step/). Students traveling to level 2 countries should read the advisory and follow the instructions listed therein and in pre-departure orientations. Level 2 countries will require an ARA review process, and students will be formally accepted to their programming only after this process is complete as outlined in section II.  

Level 3

No undergraduate shall be required to participate in an education activity under University of Pittsburgh auspices in a country listed as level 3 in the Travel Advisories System. The University also does not recommend such travel. Countries listed as level 3 will require an ARA review process. Thus, if an undergraduate student wishes to travel to a country in level 3, that student must appeal to the Global Risk, Health, Safety, and Security Committee (GRHSS) through the Director of PittGEO. Appeals include the following components:

  1. A written statement by the undergraduate student explaining why travel to the respective district/country is essential to the student's research and/or training. The statement should also discuss why alternative programming in countries listed as level 1 or 2 are not suitable. 
  2. A written statement by the faculty advisor, endorsed by the department chair, confirming that the research or training project is important to the undergraduate student's academic program and stating how the advisor believes any risk would be mitigated.
  3. A signed waiver and release (provided by PittGEO) stating that the undergraduate student has been advised of the travel warning and associated risks, and still chooses to travel to this district/country. The waiver will also include an acknowledgement by the undergraduate student that it is his or her own responsibility to take precautions with respect to his or her personal safety, and that he or she understands that the University of Pittsburgh, external funding agencies, and even the U.S. Department of State may be unable to help in the event he or she encounters difficulties abroad. The waiver and release shall release the University from liability for death, injuries or losses suffered by the student while participating in the activity.

If an appeal is approved by the GRHSS, that undergraduate student will receive an acknowledgement from the GRHSS and will be permitted to use approved University of Pittsburgh funding – including any external funding administered through and disbursed by the external funding agencies. Students should also comply with any additional requirement of external funding agencies when traveling to locations with a level 3 designation. Additionally, once the appeal is granted and acknowledgement received, the undergraduate student must enroll in the STEP program, follow all of the instructions listed in the advisory, and meet with the Director of PittGEO to make a risk mitigation plan for their travel. 

IV. Graduate Student Travel 

All Graduate level students at the University of Pittsburgh, who wish to travel as affiliated with the University (i.e. to earn course credit, conduct research, complete an internship or service-learning project) to any destination abroad, must notify the Pitt GEO, even if they are not part of an official PittGEO program. Additionally, all undergraduate level students must complete all required forms as issued by PittGEO, prior to departure.

Level 1

Graduate students who wish to travel to countries listed as level 1 in the Travel Advisories System should plan to progress through their normal application and post-acceptance procedures including registering their travel through the University’s auspices as well as through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP: https://step.state.gov/step/). Students traveling to level 1 countries should read the advisory and follow the instructions listed therein and in pre-departure orientations, if applicable.

Level 2

Graduate students who wish to travel to countries listed as level 2 in the Travel Advisories System should plan to progress through their normal application and post-acceptance procedures including registering their travel through the University’s auspices as well as through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP: https://step.state.gov/step/). Students traveling to level 2 countries should read the advisory and follow the instructions listed therein and in pre-departure orientations, if applicable. Level 2 countries will require an ARA review process, and students will be formally accepted to their programming only after this process is complete as outlined in section II. 

Level 3 and 4

No graduate student shall be required to participate in an education activity under University of Pittsburgh auspices in a country listed as level 3 or 4 in the Travel Advisories System. The University also does not recommend such travel. Countries listed as level 3 will require an ARA review process. Thus, if a graduate student wishes to travel to a country in level 3 or 4, that graduate student must appeal to the Global Risk, Health, Safety, and Security Committee through the Director of PittGEO. Appeals include the following components:

  1. A written statement by the graduate student explaining why travel to the respective district/country is essential to the student's research and/or training and containing a travel itinerary including detailed contact information.
  2. A written statement by the faculty advisor, endorsed by the department chair, confirming that the research or training project is important to the graduate student's academic program and stating how the advisor believes any risk would be mitigated.
  3. A signed waiver and release (provided by the Study Abroad Office) stating that the graduate student has been advised of the travel warning and associated risks, and still chooses to travel to this district/country. The waiver will also include an acknowledgement by the graduate student that it is his or her own responsibility to take precautions with respect to his or her personal safety, and that he or she understands that the University of Pittsburgh, external funding agencies, and even the U.S. Department of State may be unable to help in the event he or she encounters difficulties abroad. The waiver and release shall release the University from liability for death, injuries or losses suffered by the student while participating in the activity.

If an appeal is approved by the Global Risk, Health, Safety, and Security Committee (GRHSS), that graduate student will receive an acknowledgement from the GRHSS and will be permitted to use approved University of Pittsburgh funding – including any external funding administered through and disbursed by the external funding agencies. Students should also comply with an additional requirement of external funding agencies when traveling to locations with a level 3 or 4 designation. Additionally, once the appeal is granted and acknowledgement received, the graduate student must enroll in the STEP program, follow all of the instructions listed in the advisory, and meet with the Director of PittGEO to make a risk mitigation plan for their travel.