University International Travel

Scope of Policy

The University International Travel and Activities Policy governs all international travel and activities sponsored or co-sponsored by the University of Redlands. This includes individual faculty/staff travel, undergraduate, graduate, professional degree or certificate programs, or any other programs arranged and/or sponsored by a campus, a school, the College, or a department that in any way relates to University business.

University-Sponsored International Travel

What is University sponsored travel?

University-sponsored travel is defined as university faculty, staff, postdoctoral researchers, or graduate assistants who are traveling due to their position as an employee of the University. Personal travel is excluded. Funding for University-sponsored travel must be provided by one or more of the following:

1. 1. the University; 
   2. a grant or contract that is managed by the University;
   3. and/or a third party, but the purpose of the travel is due to the traveler’s position within the University.

Individual Faculty/Staff Travel

University-sponsored individual faculty/staff international travel is travel funded by or supported through resources, such as employee time or funding, while employed by the University of Redlands. 

Group International Travel

International group travel entails faculty/staff travel with students and/or external members, e.g., boards, alumni groups or other groups.

University-sponsored group travel includes global education opportunities organized, developed, or administered by specific schools and colleges, departments, or University of Redlands employees as approved by the International Travel and Activities Advisory Committee. Education abroad opportunities include but are not limited to credit-bearing and non-credit bearing experiences such as: study abroad programs, May Term travel courses, internships, field studies, service learning, research, volunteer or work programs, immersion programs, fellowships, professional development activities, athletic teams travel, alumni travel programs, student club/organization trips, conferences and more. 

Travel Not Sponsored by the University

This is international travel that has no formal affiliation with the University of Redlands.  

Some examples include personal travel, vacations and any programs or internships abroad that students pursue outside of the University of Redlands.  

Overview of University Sponsored Travel and Travel Not Sponsored by the University

Policy

The University of Redlands will support university-sponsored international travel to destinations with: 

• Level 1 and Level 2 U.S. Department of State (DOS) Travel Advisories unless there is obvious risk to a participant’s health, safety, or to the likelihood of being able to carry out the goals of the international travel successfully. For student travel, we may also give consideration to infrastructure for student support including, but not limited to: University staffing, campus health centers, program center staffing, onsite local protocols and support for health, safety or immigration that may impact travel. 
• University-sponsored travel is not supported to locations with an overall DOS Travel Advisory Level 3 unless the International Travel and Activities Advisory Committee grants an exception. Certain areas within countries with an overall advisory Level 1 or Level 2 may be designated Level 3, and neither travel to, nor transit through, such as stopover, may occur in these destinations without an exception.
• University-sponsored travel to a Level 4 country is not supported; extraordinary circumstances may allow for level 4 travel but it is very unlikely. Travel with undergraduate students will not be approved for level 4 countries.
• Other considerations for approval include CDC and WHO travel advisories, U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) restrictions and the University's applicable insurance coverages. 

Approval of International Travel 

The International Travel and Activities Approval Committee (ITAAC) grants approval for University-Sponsored international travel and activities.

All travel requires a U of R faculty/staff member to fulfill the role and responsibilities of the U of R Responsible On-Campus Officer or On-Site Leader which are defined in the travel procedures, and approval is contingent upon continual monitoring of current global and in-country health and safety conditions up to and through the official dates of the university program, initiative, or sponsored travel.  

Prior approval of University-sponsored travel may be rescinded at any time if travel involves destinations in which:

• Current health and safety conditions pose unusual or significant risks; OR
• DOS/CDC/WHO/Treasury Department issues updated or revised advisories or regulations
• Changes to the University's applicable insurance policies
• There is a failure of the U of R Responsible On-Campus Officer or On-Site Leader to monitor in-country health and safety conditions and/or fulfill their role and responsibilities.