Learning Abroad is committed to ensuring the health and safety of all our Coogs Abroad. In the event of an emergency, please contact UHPD's 24/7 emergency line: +1-713-743-3333

Table of Contents:

• UH Health & Safety Information
• Student Travel Policies
• US Dept of State Information
• Learning Abroad Risk & Safety Committee

University of Houston Health & Safety Information

Learning Abroad Emergency Protocol

• Crisis Information - University of Houston Crisis Information
• UH ALERT Emergency Notification System - Emergency Information
• UH Health Center

Incident Report Form

• To report incidents that occur during programs abroad.
• Note that this is for UH reporting. Incidents that should be reported to program providers or host institutions must be reported separately.

International Medical and Emergency Insurance

On Call International - As of August 1, 2023, UH has partnered with On Call International to offer cost-effective and robust international insurance package available to our students and faculty leaders.

Pre-Departure Orientations for affiliated, non-affiliated, and exchange programs are held each semester and attendance is mandatory for all students traveling abroad. Faculty leaders schedule orientations for their individual groups with the support of Learning Abroad. For the dates of this semester's Pre-Dpearture Orientations, please see the Events and Outreach page.

Learning Abroad Policy for Student Travel

All students traveling internationally for a university-related purpose, regardless of credit or funding, must obtain authorization prior to departure, and they must register their travel following the appropriate application and registration process based on their type of travel, either on approved Learning Abroad programs, or as other university sponsored travel. Application, registration, and approval are determined by the Institute for Global Engagement Student International Travel Policy. View the full Student International Travel Policy.

Elevated Risk Destinations

The University of Houston encourages participation in international activities and promotes the development of opportunities for international study and research as part of its academic mission. While all travel abroad has some risks, some parts of the world pose heightened risks to the health and safety of travelers.

To safeguard the well-being of students, faculty, and staff going abroad, the Elevated Risk Destinations Policy provides a framework for review and approval of elevated risk destinations. Students, faculty and staff are not permitted to travel to elevated risk locations unless an exception is granted by the Global Risk and Safety Committee and the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. This policy does not apply to personal or other travel that is unaffiliated with the University of Houston.

No UH student shall be required to participate in university sponsored, organized or affiliated travel to an elevated risk destination. The student must consider the risks, and, weighing those risks against the value of the educational opportunity to the student, make their own determination about whether to continue pursuing the planned international travel research, study, or other engagement opportunity. The student should also take into consideration the possibility that the countries not designated as elevated risk may be updated to be part of the list without warning. The student should also consider the possibility that, if he or she encounters difficulties abroad, UH and even the U.S. Department of State may be unable to assist.

Elevated risk destinations are determined based on four criteria for the country or region of a country. Destinations are cataloged and updated monthly by the Assistant Director of Learning Abroad. The determining criteria are:

• U.S. Department of State Travel Warning Level 3 or 4
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travel Warning Level 3 or 4
• On Call International Risk Assessment Levels 4 and 5
• UH travel to a country/region that has been designated as restricted by the Office of the Provost and/or Office of the Chancellor & President

To review if your travel destination is to an Elevated Risk Destination, please contact the Assistant Director of Learning Abroad, Andie Beer.

Elevated Risk Destination Forms

• Learning Abroad Elevated Risk Travel Student Request Form
• Learning Abroad Elevated Risk Travel Request Form (for Faculty/Staff program leaders)

To read the full Elevated Risk Destination policy, view the full Student International Travel Policy.

U.S. Department of State Resources and Information

Travel Alerts and Warnings - Up-to-date alerts and warnings for U.S. travelers who are or will be traveling abroad. 

Emergency Resources

On the U.S. Department of State Emergency Resources page you can find useful information pertaining to:

• Lost & Stolen Passports
• Medical Emergencies
• Victims of Crime
• Arrest & Detention
• Missing Persons & Contacting Loves Ones
• Parental Child Abductions
• Death Abroad
• Natural Disasters
• The State Department's Role in a Crisis

Overseas U.S. Citizens Services / Report a Lost or Stolen Passport

From the U.S. & Canada

1-888-407-4747

From Overseas

+1-202-501-4444

U.S. Consulate and Embassy Resources

Consulate and Embassy Locator

Visit the U.S. Embassy website for a complete list of U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulate locations throughout the world. Keep in mind that, depending on the emergency, it may be best to shelter in place. Please visit the Travel Alerts and Warnings page to see if there are instructions in the event of an emergency.

Learning Abroad Risk and Safety Committee

The Learning Abroad Risk and Safety Committee develops guidelines and policies related to the health and safety of University of Houston students traveling abroad. The committee also reviews group and individual travel and provides recommendations to the Institute for Global Engagement and the Office of the Provost.

Learning Abroad Risk and Safety Committee Members:

• Assistant Director, Learning Abroad
• Executive Director, Institute for Global Engagement
• Director, Risk Management
• Director, Office of Emergency Management
• Representative, University Police Department
• Representative, Office of General Counsel
• Representative, Dean of Students
• Representative, UH Equal Opportunity Services
• Representative, UH Health Center
• Representative, Counseling and Psychological Services
• Representative, UH System Clery Office
• Representative, UH Faculty Senate

For more information about the Learning Abroad Risk & Safety Committee, please contact Learning Abroad at learningabroad@uh.edu.