Safety Reminder for
Georgetown University Students on
Education Abroad Programs

Education Abroad Safety:

Georgetown University makes every effort to ensure the safety and well-being of students participating on our education abroad programs. Georgetown University provides students with health and safety information, maintains emergency preparedness protocols and crisis response procedures, provides students with education abroad health insurance, and monitors both the international situation and the political, social, and economic conditions in locations where we have Georgetown-approved programs. However, some of our programs are run by Georgetown University personnel overseas who monitor and provide support for students. Other programs are placements at host universities with varying degrees of support for international students.

Safety on Georgetown University education abroad programs is a shared responsibility and requires that students (and their parents) be well-informed, active participants in maintaining their own well-being overseas. Georgetown University cannot control all the personal decisions, choices, and activities of individual participants.

Georgetown University has been closely monitoring developments related to the avian flu. Updated information can be found at preparedness.georgetown.edu/avianinfluenza.html . Additional information can also be accessed at the World Health Organization website or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

The following safety reminder has been adapted from the Georgetown University Conditions of Participation, the U.S. Department of State's Fact Sheet:Travel Safety Information for Students (http://travel.state.gov) and the Association of International Educators' (NAFSA) Responsible Study Abroad: Good Practices for Health and Safety (http://www.secussa.nafsa.org/safetyabroad/goodpractices2003.html)

1. Read and consider all materials provided or recommended by Georgetown University, such as consular information sheets, health information sheets, and all pre-departure orientation materials located in your acceptance packets and the parents' packet.
2. Consider your health and personal circumstances when applying for or accepting a place on a program overseas.
3. Behave in a manner that is respectful of the rights and well being of others, knowing that drugs, alcohol and disorderly behavior may put you at risk of arrest, incarceration, rape or robbery.
4. Become familiar with the procedures for obtaining emergency health and law enforcement services in your host country.
5. Avoid active participation in political demonstrations or other events which may lead to violence or unrest. Read local newspapers and stay abreast of the latest political, social, and economic events.
6. Adhere to the advice provided by the Department of State in public announcements and travel warnings. Check the Department of State's web site at http://travel.state.gov.
7. Know the emergency contact numbers for your host university, Georgetown's Office of International Programs, and World Wide Assistance.
8. When traveling, provide your parents, host family, and/or program coordinator with an itinerary and a cell-phone number. Be sure to keep you cell-phone charged.
9. Keep in touch with your parents and friends, and follow program policies for keeping staff informed of your whereabouts and well-being.
10. Discuss safety, behavior issues, insurance needs and emergency procedures related to living abroad with your parents before you go.

To find out how Georgetown University is preparing for emergencies, please visit the GU Emergency Preparedness webpage. (http://www.georgetown.edu/svp/preparedness.html)