Castle with a lion sculpture in front

Responsibilities of participants

Participants should:

  • Read and carefully consider all information provided by the Career Center/Study Abroad Office
  • Get familiar with safety and health conditions in host countries.
  • Obtain and maintain health insurance coverage and liability insurance (when traveling abroad through partner universities)
  • Discuss health insurance regulations with the Career Center/Study Abroad Office
  • Inform parent/guardians/families, etc. about their participation in the study abroad program, update contact information and provide emergency contact information
  • Understand and comply with the terms of participation, codes of academic and ethical conduct, and emergency procedure
  • Obey host country laws
  • Research local conditions and culturally customs before travelling
  • Become familiar with the procedures for obtaining health and law enforcement services in the host country
  • Express any health or safety concerns to the program staff or site director
  • Avoid substance abuse of all kinds
  • Behave in a manner that is respectful of the rights and well-being of others

Responsibilities of the Career Center/Study Abroad Office

  • Monitor possible changes in country conditions. Provide information about the situation of the host country to the participant and offer advice.
  • Develop and maintain emergency preparedness and crisis response plans.
  • Provide students information about health, legal, environmental, political, cultural, and religious conditions in the host country.
  • Discuss with student’s emergency response measures before departure.
  • Explain to the student the role of and assistance provided by the on-site resident director or program coordinator.
  • Inform the student of possible issues that may impact on her/his safety.
  • Make sure the student has health insurance (including emergency evacuation and repatriation) or inform her/him on how to obtain such coverage.
  • Discuss with students’ applicable codes of conduct and the consequences on noncompliance.
  • In cases of serious health problems, injury, or other significant health and safety circumstances, maintain good communication between all the parties involved (participant, SMWC staff, parents, program directors, etc.).
  • Inform participants and parents that some aspects of the study abroad experiences are beyond the control of the office. The Career Center/Study Abroad Office:
    • Cannot guarantee or ensure the safety of participants or eliminate all risks from the study abroad environments.
    • Cannot monitor or control all the daily personal decisions, choices, and activities of the participants.
    • Cannot prevent participants from engaging in illegal, dangerous, or unwise activities.
    • Cannot ensure that US. Legal standards overseas or pay for legal counsel
    • Cannot ensure that home-country cultural values and norms will apply in the host country.
    • Cannot fully replicate home campus support services at overseas locations