You must hold at least two in-person pre-departure meeting with your students to discuss academic requirements, program expectations, arrival instructions, health and safety, cultural tips etc. Download pre-departure meeting template (pptx).
Developed by the Office for Global Health, Safety and Security and the Office for Education Abroad, this manual is a program director's guide to operating a program on-site. Please review the manual and consider the health and safety risks that may impact your program and develop mitigation strategies and response procedures tailored to your program. Download On-Site Operations Manual (pdf).
All faculty-directed MSU Education Abroad and Domestic Study Away programs are required to submit a Contingency Planning form at least six (6) weeks prior to departure. You may download a Word version of the form to review questions and draft responses prior to submitting the forms online via Qualtrics.
After submission, the primary contact, EA program coordinator and Office for Global Health, Safety and Security will each receive an email confirmation with a copy of the submission.
Primary contacts should share the email with the completed submission form with key staff on campus as well as all on-site staff (all faculty-directed programs are required to have two qualified on-site staff). Primary contacts should share sections 1-4 with Education Abroad student participants OR sections 2-4 for domestic Study Away student participants.
We strongly recommend that program directors for international Education Abroad programs connect with International SOS to understand support they offer, including pre-departure planning, information on nearby medical facilities, clarifying mental health resources in the program location, highlighting any risks in your location or due to program activities, etc.
Contact International SOS 24/7 at 1-215-942-8478 or email philadelphia@internationalsos.com (allow 48 hours for a written follow up). Program Directors with experience using a specific local facility should mention this to International SOS.
Please note that International SOS is not available to provide comprehensive support for MSU Domestic Study Away programs.
All program directors must be in communication with stuents and MSU during program dates.
If a major security incident occurs, the Office for Global Health, Safety and Security will reach out to travelers in the affected country to conduct an accountability check. You can help us by proactively reporting that your program is okay and unaffected by emailing us at globalsafety@msu.edu.
Health issues are the most common type of incident on education abroad programs, so program directors should be familiar with best practices for preparing students to manage their health abroad.
Students, program directors and program assistants are automatically covered by international health insurance and International SOS membership. Learn more about health coverage for MSU-sponsored travel.
International SOS can offer pre-departure assistance to program directors and students including:
Contact International SOS at +1-215-942-8478 to consult with their medical team.
International SOS membership cards will be given to you before your program departure. Please distribute to your students. If you or a student needs medical care during your program, call International SOS for assistance. Learn more about International SOS.
Students submit a Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization Form to Education Abroad. This form is sent directly to the MSU Travel Clinic review. Based on the information disclosed on the form, Travel Clinic staff may reach out to individual students to consult with them about managing their health abroad.
For privacy reasons, this information on this form is not shared with program directors, the Office for Education Abroad, or the Office for Global Health, Safety, and Security. However, you may invite your students to disclose this information to you on a strictly voluntary basis by asking if anything they would like you to know about their health abroad. If a student chooses to disclose health-related information to you, be mindful of their privacy and treat that information sensitively.
You should be familiar with any public health risks present in the country or countries you will be visiting. This could include water drinkability, pollution levels, climate, the standard of medical care, etc. The Centers for Disease Control and International SOS are great sources of information.
You and your students are encouraged to visit the MSU Travel Clinic well in advance of your departure. This is especially important if you:
International SOS can give pre-travel advice to you and your students. There is no additional cost for these consultations. International SOS cannot, however, give immunizations or prescribe medications.
As a program director, you must refrain from providing advice about medications or immunizations. Travel health recommendations change frequently and should be tailored to a person's individual health history and offered by qualified medical personnel. Please direct students to the MSU Travel Clinic, International SOS, and/or their primary care physician.
Studying abroad is an exciting but sometimes stressful experience for students. Use these tips to support student mental well-being on your education abroad program.
Mental Health Resources