Health & Safety

Emergency Communications

Program participants are given contact information for onsite staff members who are available 24/7 in cases of emergency. Students in need of urgent assistance should first contact local TEAN staff. If the person reporting an emergency does not know the TEAN onsite staff contact information, they may reach the TEAN U.S. office at 800.585.9658 or 312.239.3710 during regular hours (Mon – Thurs: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm CST, Fridays: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm CST).

Upon receiving an emergency call, TEAN will activate our emergency response protocol which will include communications with relevant stakeholders, typically including the participant’s emergency contact/s and home university staff. In the event that medical care is required, TEAN can assist the affected participant through insurance protocols.

TEAN’s stateside and on-site staff closely monitors U.S. State Department (DOS) Travel Advisories and Country Specific Risk Indicators at all times. TEAN also regularly reviews reports by the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO), as well as information provided by trusted security analysis services, local governments and media outlets.

U.S State Department Travel Advisories

In January of 2018, the DOS replaced existing guidance and implemented a new system for U.S citizens to understand important travel security information. Under this new, 4-tiered, color-coded system, the DOS has issued an advisory level for every country in the world. The advisory levels are as follows:

• Level 1 – Exercise Normal Precautions (blue)
• Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution (yellow)
• Level 3 – Reconsider Travel (orange)
• Level 4 – Do Not Travel (red)

In addition to its advisory level, the DOS provides specific information on any risk indicators affecting each country and specific advice on what travelers can do before they leave and once abroad to provide for their own safety. TEAN encourages all students and their families to review the DOS country specific information for their program country and any countries where students intend to travel independently while abroad. This information can be found on the Travel.State.Gov website. Additionally, TEAN advises students to thoroughly read the Health and Safety sections of the Online Orientation in their TEAN Student Portal in preparation for their program.

Helpful resources for students include:

• Department of State, Students Abroad:
  https://travel.state.gov/content/studentsabroad/en.html
• Department of State, Smart Traveler Enrollment Program:
  https://step.state.gov/step/
• Department of State, World Map
  https://travelmaps.state.gov/TSGMap

U.S. State Department Alert Issued for an TEAN Program Country

If the U.S. State Department issues an official Alert for a TEAN location, and the message includes an official State Department recommendation that all U.S. citizens evacuate the country, TEAN’s default action will be to cancel the program and proceed with evacuation procedures. If the program has not yet started, TEAN’s default course of action will be to suspend the program. Exceptions can be made if the language in the Alert gives TEAN management clear reason to believe that the warning is the result of dangers that exist in areas well outside of the city/cities where our program is operating. If we do suspend the program, we will work with students to transfer them to another TEAN program. During this process, we will ask students to obtain written approval from their home institution.

TEAN Region-Specific Travel Restrictions

In order to maintain the highest level of safety for all TEAN participating students, TEAN has restricted independent travel to certain areas of the world. TEAN participants are not allowed to independently enter or travel within the following regions during the participation of a TEAN program:

Last updated: 10/16/2023

There are a wide variety of criteria that TEAN uses to determine whether or not to restrict travel to a specific region. The restriction may be based on an ongoing situation which poses an immediate threat to TEAN participants, significant regions of the country that are dangerous for TEAN participants, the lack of services for US citizens, or other factors.

This list of restricted locations is continually updated based on TEAN direct observation, US Department of State recommendation, Overseas Security Advisory Council, WHO reports, and expert consultation. TEAN reserves the right to add countries/regions to this list, without notice.

All TEAN students are made aware of the regions that have travel restrictions when they sign our Code of Conduct which states that they will abide by all travel restrictions established by TEAN. It is the TEAN student’s responsibility to be aware of the most current travel restrictions, which can always be accessed on TEAN’s website here. Violation of any TEAN travel restriction is cause for automatic dismissal from the TEAN program, and participants will be required to return to the U.S. immediately.

* For travel within or to these countries/regions, before finalizing any travel plans, students should submit their travel itinerary to their Resident Director at least two weeks in advance of their intended travel dates. Students may be asked to provide additional information. TEAN reserves the right to prohibit travel within or to these countries/regions. Please contact TEAN for more information if you are planning to visit any location outside of your host country while participating on an TEAN program.

Statement on Title IX, Sexual Assault and Misconduct

The cultural and legal context surrounding Title IX issues in host countries may be different from what students are used to in the U.S. Many behaviors considered to be harassing or discriminatory in the U.S. may be more common, or even socially tolerated, in other countries. While many U.S. institutions have developed sophisticated structures of support and judicial process surrounding sexual and interpersonal misconduct, universities abroad are generally less involved at an administrative level. Although TEAN cannot control the local environment, TEAN staff will do as much as possible to support students as they navigate through this unfamiliar territory. TEAN strives to provide relevant resources onsite and works collaboratively with students’ home universities to provide additional remote support.

In the case of sexual assault or sexual misconduct, TEAN strives to empower its student participants and support their rights as much as possible. In some instances, students’ home institutions may require TEAN to report Title IX incidents to designated officials at their home institutions, including the names of those involved. In these cases, the home institution may launch a judicial process to adjudicate the alleged assault or misconduct. Upon learning of an incident of sexual assault or misconduct, TEAN may need to share some details with other program participants to protect their safety. TEAN will make every effort to do so while upholding the confidentiality of the reporting individual and others who may be involved.

TEAN strongly recommends that any program participant who experiences a sexual assault or incident of harassment communicate with a trusted friend or family member for emotional support and report the incident to TEAN onsite staff. If the student does not wish to discuss the incident directly with TEAN, we urge them to contact the local U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance. The embassy/consulate can provide a list of trustworthy medical facilities and other local resources. For more information about U.S. State Department resources, visit the website.

Additionally, a student’s home university likely has an extensive web page devoted to Title IX violations and resources, and likely has a list of trained advisors who are equipped to provide resources and support.

Medications Abroad

Any student taking regular prescription medications should discuss travel plans with their regular doctor, and develop a plan for the duration of the student’s time abroad. Certain countries may have customs restrictions prohibiting the postal delivery of medications sent from the U.S. It may also be difficult or impossible to fill U.S. prescriptions at the host location. When possible, students should bring enough medications to last for the duration of the program. Students should always bring a copy of their current prescription with them as well as contact information for their U.S.-based doctor.

Students are encouraged to disclose medical conditions and current prescriptions with TEAN. Though TEAN does not require this information in our application procedures, we urge students to start a dialogue with us as soon as possible so we can offer guidance and direct students to further resources. TEAN Program Managers are best equipped to field questions related to the specific program location. For more information on medications abroad, please see the following online resources:

• Mobility International USA (MIUSA)
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Medical marijuana

Students should never travel with any amount of marijuana in their possession. Marijuana is illegal in many countries. Even students carrying a U.S. prescription for marijuana can be arrested, prosecuted and deported if in possession of any illegal substance. Airports and airplanes are federal jurisdictions. You can be detained and arrested when going through security. Federal authorities do not recognize the medical marijuana laws or cards of any state.

Safety Tips

Students on all TEAN programs are provided with these safety tips and recommendations before they’re departure and during their program orientation:

• Emergency Contacts: Students designate a parent or guardian as their Emergency Contact in their Virtual Application to ensure that information regarding an emergency situation will automatically be passed on to their parents.
• Communication Information: Students provide TEAN with the most up-to-date contact information including their telephone, mobile phone, address and email address. We also encourage students to notify their parents and Resident Director in case of an emergency.
• Keep Others Informed: When students travel while abroad, it is critical that they inform others (roommates, parents, Resident Director) of their travel plans. Keeping others informed will make it easier to locate all students in case of an emergency.
• Stay Informed: We provide as much information as we can and we strongly encourage all of our students to research the political, cultural, and social climate of their study and travel abroad destination before heading overseas. While abroad, students should pay attention to local news sources for developments that may affect their health and safety, as well as stay in touch with their Resident Directors. For any questions, please contact an TEAN staff member either in the U.S. or abroad.
• What about anti-American sentiment? Although individual Americans are generally well liked abroad, host nationals will often question the activities of the U.S. Government and may hold anti-American views. This has occurred for some time, in periods of both peace and crisis. Participants in the past have found these tips useful:
  • Use common sense
  • Dress to blend in
  • Speak softly and respectfully
  • Avoid overt displays of American patriotism
  • TEAN also advises that students avoid all public demonstrations

Health and Safety Resources

• U.S. Department of State – Travel Advisories: Information, advice, and security threat assessments for every country in the world
• U.S. Department of State – Study Abroad Website
• World Health Organization (WHO)

• U.S. Embassies: Contact information for all U.S. embassies around the world
• 
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• SAFETI (Safety Abroad First-Educational Travel Information)

• Select Wisely: Resource for travelers with allergies
• NAFSA Rainbow Special Interest Group: Resource for LGBT students
• Mobility International: Resource for students with disabilities

New Zealand Health Insurance

New Zealand also has excellent medical and health systems available for international students. The basic medical and health insurance policy, or Overseas Student Health Coverage (OSHC), fulfills the mandatory insurance required by the government for international students in New Zealand. The New Zealand government through the Ministry of Education Code of Practice for Pastoral Care of International Students requires that international students have medical and travel insurance. Our partner universities in New Zealand utilize Student Safe Insurance, which provides both medical and travel insurance. This comprehensive insurance is included in the program fee and includes the following:

• Medical evacuation
• Hospitalization
• Surgery
• Emergency dental services
• Change in vision services

There are some limitations to Student Safe Insurance. If students have any existing health concerns, they should contact their current insurance provider before they leave for New Zealand. Medical insurance for higher levels of need is the student’s individual responsibility.

Asia Health Insurance

TEAN provides health insurance as part of the program fee. We will enroll students in advance of their departure so that they have health coverage before they leave their hometown.

TEAN is proud to partner with CHUBB/ACE, an established worldwide leader in the educational travel and cultural exchange insurance market. CHUBB/ACE is committed to providing comprehensive insurance coverage to international students and cultural exchange participants worldwide.  Coverage provided through health insurance typically includes:

• $500,000 of coverage per injury/illness
• 24-hour worldwide emergency assistance
• $100,000 for emergency medical transportation, evacuation and return of mortal remains and 100% for emergency medical transportation, evacuation and return of mortal remains
• Diagnosis, treatment and surgery by a physician
• Operating room charges
• X-Rays for outpatient services
• Dressings, drugs and medication requiring a prescription

Please note that all Korea semester programs require students be enrolled in Korean National Health Insurance in addition to the TEAN policy.  Students will be enrolled once they arrive in Korea and will pay the Korean government $40 USD/month while abroad.  More details will be provided to students during the application process.

Travel Insurance

TEAN highly recommends the purchase of extra travel insurance through a travel agency or directly through the airline for any unexpected mishaps, especially with personal belongings, that can occasionally occur while you are traveling. Additional travel insurance is optional and is not included in the TEAN program fee. Students can purchase travel insurance when securing their flight booking for approximately $400 for a standard international flight to our program destinations.

Diving Insurance

As with any insurance policy, there are exclusions to the coverage which are listed in the Description of Coverage. It is important for students to read and understand the policy coverage and exclusions prior to going abroad. Among the activities not covered by this policy are scuba diving and scuba-related accidents and injuries. With this in mind, it is recommended that any students planning to participate in scuba diving take steps necessary to obtain specific coverage for that activity. The Diver’s Alert Network, considered the standard in the scuba industry, provides many scuba-related resources in addition to the insurance coverage.