Agriculture Study Abroad, The College of Agriculture and Iowa State University consider safety of our students on study abroad programs one of the paramount issues for our programs. Risk is inherent in all travel but we have policies in place in an attempt to make our students’ participation in our programs the safest it can be.

 

Each of our programs is approved through a University-level committee of international educators and faculty with significant experience coordinating and leading educational programs internationally, as well as a risk management professional. Our faculty leaders provide students with a pre-departure orientation. We encourage our students to take responsibility for their own safety through our required pre-departure orientation where they are given multiple resources for following up on safety issues and often have the opportunity to talk to people who have lived in or are from the country they are traveling to. All of our travelers are required to have supplemental travel insurance that would allow for emergency care and support while abroad.

 

The locations of our programs are carefully chosen. We work with partner institutions or other in-country partners which allows us access to a strong support network if an emergency arises. We continually monitor the safety of our study abroad locations and monitor world events with safety of our student travelers in mind. Each program location is monitored on a daily basis through the US State Department site – view at http://www.state.gov , through the British Commonwealth site view at http://www.fco.gov.uk/  click on the travel link, and through several news organizations. If at anytime a situation arises which would compromise the safety of the program or location, the program would be cancelled and an emergency protocol would be put in place. This decision is made by a group representing both the College and University levels.

 

Emergency Contact Information:

In case of a study abroad emergency, please contact
Shelley Taylor
Director, Agriculture Study Abroad
Office: 515-294-5393
Mobile: 515-708-3367 (anytime)

Department of Public Safety (for connection to a Study Abroad Coordinator)
515-294-4428 (anytime)