Safety Policy for Intercultural Programs

Owned by Laura Lehman (Deactivated)
Last updated: Jul 26, 2024 by Jennifer Bauman

The safety and welfare of Eastern Mennonite University’s students and leaders participating in intercultural programs is always our priority.

Pre-travel preparedness

  1. Our intercultural leaders are experienced EMU faculty who accompany students in all their academic travel. During independent travel, students follow additional safety precautions. 
  2. Students receive instruction on safety, cultural norms, behavioral expectations, and legal considerations as part of orientation activities.
  3. Students receive identification letters from EMU to be carried on person to assist them in case of emergency.
  4. Students (and parents) receive a detailed itinerary with contact information and emergency contact numbers. The faculty leaders and director of intercultural programs maintain regular communication at all times. Periodic updates are sent to parents.

Geopolitical monitoring

  1. EMU carefully monitors the regions of all intercultural programs. Sources include U.S. Department of State advisories, consultants, travel agents, regional media sources, field contacts, local area partners, churches, and expatriate mission personnel. The intimate understanding of on-site field experts is invaluable for evaluating situations.
  2. EMU intercultural groups are registered with the U.S. Department of State or directly with embassies and consulates to receive assistance in case of emergency.

General Health precautions

  1. Students complete a Health History, Medical Permission, and Emergency Information form, including verification of international health insurance coverage, to assist faculty leaders and the director of intercultural programs to arrange for appropriate medical care while traveling. Immunization requirements for each program are communicated to students in advance. For students under the age of 21, a parent/guardian provides written permission for student participation in an intercultural program. Faculty leaders identify health professionals and facilities for all locations of their program to assist in case of illness or accident.  
  2. EMU intercultural groups embrace an ethic of care for each other.

Mental Health Precautions

  1. A student with concerns or identified need will be seen by the director of counseling services to assess safety for travel and the implication of lack of access to resources.
    1. If the student is a current client on campus, the director of counseling services will rely on records and the in person assessment. 
    2. If the student already has a community counselor, the director of counseling services will request a release to consult with the provider.
    3. If the director of counseling services assesses no threat to safety, recommendations to allow the travel will be made to the student, parents, faculty and administration as appropriate.
    4. If the director of counseling services feels further evaluation is needed, recommendations will be made to the student, parents, faculty and administration as appropriate and may include requests for further assessment by an outside provider which can include a psychiatrist or psychologist. 
  2. In consultation with the Director of Intercultural Programs, the Director of Counseling Services, and Dean of Students, the university may reserve the right to consult with parents or guardians and refuse permission to travel with an EMU program.

Contingency plans

  1. EMU faculty leaders take care in planning programs, and design contingency plans in case of emergency. Contingency plans may include, for example, relocation to a nearby country in order to complete studies. 
  2. Any decision to evacuate, relocate, or cancel an intercultural program rest with the president of the university in consultation with the provost, director of intercultural programs, and faculty leaders. The director of intercultural programs calls for such a meeting. While traveling, faculty leaders are authorized to withdraw to a safe location or return home if:
  3. there is a complete breakdown of communications systems making it impossible to contact the university; or,
  4. the danger is so immediate that there is insufficient time to contact the university. 

Should it be necessary to leave an intercultural program location prematurely, the intercultural leaders will:

  1. make every effort to complete the program in a similar locality or region; or,
  2. return to campus to complete the program with alternative learning experiences.
  3. If it is impossible to satisfactorily complete the program, arrangements for reimbursement and academic credit will be determined in consultation with the faculty leaders, director of intercultural programs, and university registrar according to university policies.

Responsible Party

Responsibility for this policy lies with the Director of Intercultural Programs.

Policy Review

This policy is to be reviewed every five years.

Distribution

This policy is distributed via the Intercultural Leaders Manual and the EMU Student Handbook.


Revised by Cross-Cultural Committee, February 06, 2014
Approved by Academic Cabinet, April 9, 2014
Approved by President’s Cabinet, September 10, 2014
This policy is a sub-section of the ICP Risk Management Policy since 2019