Office of Study Abroad and Study Away Programs

Health and Safety Abroad

Health and safety are our highest concerns for Clark study abroad participants. Before departure, we help prepare students for their time away from Clark, addressing such topics as health awareness, cultural difference and adaptation, and academic and social support services. Our goal is for each student to have a safe and rewarding experience abroad.

In what is still a time of heightened international tension, the Study Abroad Office also monitors the world situation closely, maintains a Crisis Management Plan, and urges parents and students to be diligent and self-aware. We have assembled this part of the Parent's web site to address these issues, provide resources, and give information. Please let us know if you need additional support or have any questions.

Please note that we do not support studying in a country which is listed on the U.S. Department of State's Travel Warning/Advisory List at the time of or before the student's departure. Also, please be aware of any Public Announcements which are published by the U.S. State Department to warn U.S. Americans traveling abroad. We also discourage participation in countries for which the U.S. State Department issues Consular Information Sheets containing safety warnings. Specifically check any section entitled "Areas of Instability".

U.S. State Department Travel Warnings are also posted in the Study Abroad Office. We want you to be aware of these obstacles to studying abroad, but we understand that the final decision regarding participation is your student's to make. Students who nevertheless want to study on a program in a location which is listed on the U.S. State Department Travel Warning List, may in certain instances do so by taking an approved foreign leave of absence. Transfer credit must be pre-approved by the Study Abroad office, and Clark financial aid can not be applied to these programs.

Parent List Serv

We have created a parent email list serv to help with communication between our office and parents of students currently abroad. You can subscribe to the listserv by emailing us at studyabroad@clarku.edu, writing "listserv" in the subject heading, and your contact information in the body of the email.

General Preparation

Most of the information on general health and safety preparation can be found in the Clark Study Abroad Handbook, which is given to all students at least 2-4 months before departure. Again, we encourage you to support and guide your student through the preparation stages, while at the same time realizing that the student will need to be responsible for his or her welfare abroad. Please contact us if you would like a copy of the handbook.

Insurance

All Clark students who participate on a study abroad program must ensure they obtain coverage from a comprehensive U.S. international sickness and accident insurance plan. Some Clark programs will automatically enroll students in an insurance plan. You should check with your program as soon as possible to determine if you are appropriately covered. Students must ensure that they have adequate insurance coverage for their particular circumstances.

Further, you and your student may want to investigate additional travel and medical insurance. Several providers cater directly to study abroad students and their families. We have information in our office; please contact us at 508-793-7363 if needed.

Data File

You may want to keep a back-up file of all the information your son or daughter might need while they are away (your student should also make and bring copies with them). This would include:

Helpful Tips for Safety Abroad

  • Discuss how you and your family plan to address any emergencies that may arise. You might draft a general plan of how to get in contact, listing methods of communication to use and the order in which to use them depending on the time of day or week. Make a small card with all your contact information that your son or daughter can carry in their wallet.
  • Advise your student to keep a low profile. Try not to be conspicuous in dress, speech, or behavior. Avoid crowds, protest groups, or other potential volatile situations. It is also a good idea to avoid places (restaurants, clubs) where Americans are known to congregate.
  • Register on-line with the U.S. consulate or embassy having jurisdiction over the location of the foreign study.
  • When traveling, always make certain the program, foreign university international student office, host family, and family back home in the U.S. know where the student is going and when they are expected to return. Have them provide program and family members (including host family) with an itinerary as well as emergency contact information.
  • Makes sure your student attends the orientation programs run on-site by the study abroad program and/or foreign university—at these sessions the programs/universities will provide region-specific information regarding health and safety issues, with the latest updates.
  • Although Clark maintains a Crisis Management Plan covering all of its programs, Clark does not administer any of its programs on-site. Therefore, it is a good idea to contact the program provider or host university directly to get up-to-date emergency and safety plans.

Further Resources: