International Travel with Students Policy

This policy follows SUNY System’s policy for “International Travel with Students.” (document number 8952). 

Faculty who wish to take or send students abroad for study, research, excursions or any other activity need to inform the Global Education Office (GEO) well in advance of any departures. We recommend a minimum of eighteen months for any group activities and six months for any individual ones.  If there will be any procurement services required, you are especially encouraged to contact GEO as soon as possible during your initial planning stages.  

SUNY System requires that any outbound study abroad program for academic credit be approved by SUNY System’s Office of Global Affairs (OGA). Once approved, they will assign an INS code identifying it within the System. OGA also requires for any student traveling abroad on any type of sponsored SUNY activity to be enrolled in and billed for SUNY’s international health and emergency evacuation insurance. GEO will assist you in applying for OGA approval based on procedures in place at that time and will also facilitate the enrollment and billing for the required international insurance.  

All students and faculty leaders are required to participate in a GEO pre-departure orientation explaining the insurance, other health and safety measures and complete all required waivers and forms required for travel abroad with students through SUNY.  

Students may not travel to any countries or specific destinations within them where the US State Department has issued either Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or Level 4 (Do Not Travel) travel advisories. While some exceptions might exist for Level 3 (i.e. temporary advisories or ones issued for very specific regions where travelers will not be going), any request for an exception must be made in writing to the Director of the Global Education Office explaining what precautions have been taken to remedy risks identified in the advisory. The request will be reviewed by GEO, your department chair, dean and senior leadership for consideration. 

Any requests to teach a faculty-led course abroad or any other compensation for taking students abroad must be made and agreed on with your department chair and School dean before starting your activity. GEO does not offer academic courses or compensate faculty for teaching them.