Assess Risks
As part of your plan to travel abroad on behalf of UT Dallas, review in advance known risks at your destination and determine what things you can do to avoid or mitigate those risks.
Identify risks at your destination and get advice.
U.S. Department of State. View the Travel Advisories for your intended destination. Conditions can change rapidly in a country at any time, to receive updated Travel Advisories and Alerts, create an account at STEP.state.gov and provide the details of your specific trip, including dates of arrival and departure for the countries you choose.
Center for Disease Control. View the travel health notices for your intended destination.
Obtain a tailored safety and security advise for your trip from security experts. This service is only for destinations outside of the U.S. Ask about safety tips for specific risks that may impact you. Ex. women travelers, religious or ethnic minority travelers, LGBTQ+ travelers, and any other concerns you may have due to the activity, location, or lodging.
Determine if your destination is noted as high risk by UTD, as these destinations require tailored safety and security advise for your trip, and risk authorization before departure.
Road Safety. Check the road safety for your destination.
International Risk and Safety News. Find relevant risk, health, and safety information from official sources from the U.S. and other countries.
Review personal medical risks.
Talk with your doctors about your trip or find a clinician who specializes in travel medicine. Ask them about:
- Getting required and recommended vaccinations for your destination
- Traveling with prescription medications
- Traveling with chronic illnesses, mental health, disabilities, dietary needs
- Preventing common traveler health problems, from diarrhea to STIs
- Based on your activities and destination, forming a prevention plan for endemic diseases in the region
- Scheduling a post-travel health evaluation
Utilize your UTD resources.
The Traveler Toolkit offers travel advise for: Road Safety. Floods. Water Activities and the Risk of Drowning. Creating a Personal Emergency Action Plan. Traveling with Medications. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Traveling with Electronics. Alcohol and Drugs Abroad. Food and Water Safety. Women Travelers. General Safety and Security Tips for Travelers. LGBTQA Travelers.
The International Travel Health and Safety, Student Handbook (pdf). This PDF handbook provides UTD students traveling on behalf of the University with important information on international travel requirements and risk mitigation resources. It includes a chronological checklist of recommended risk mitigation steps and travel authorization requirements to meet prior to departure; the Traveler Toolkit, Title IX rights and resources, and a fillable Personal Emergency Action Plan (PEAP) template.
The RUO Emergency/Crisis Management Guidelines (pdf) offer to RUOs on the ground with a group, definition of a crisis or emergency, steps to take to manage a crisis or emergency, and relevant emergency contacts.
The Non-UTD Traveler Guidelines (pdf) offer guidelines to RUOs considering taking official guest/volunteers or traveling companions in their program; including definitions, forms these travelers must fill out prior to departure, and their roles. How to manage expenses, minors, insurance, and safety and emergency assistance considerations.
The Faculty-Led Program Proposal webpage offers guidance on proposing programs.
