• In-country staff and/or faculty members at each site to provide support and respond immediately to an emergency situation.
• Pre-departure materials and information regarding relevant health and safety considerations of the host country in which the student will be traveling.
• Personal advising and pre-departure meetings to discuss health & safety issues, culture shock, emergency contacts and in-country emergency.
• IEP registers all students with the local embassy in that country.
• Providing emergency contact cards with phone numbers of the local staff or faculty, the IEP emergency line, and the local American embassy or consulate.
• In-Country orientation upon arrival.
• Partnering with reputable colleges and universities, tour and travel companies.
• Accommodations are well maintained and provided in safe locations. Homestay families are interviewed and carefully selected by an in-country coordinator.
• Providing each participant with travel insurance and medical evacuation insurance.
• 24-Hour IEP emergency phone line.

Health & Safety is a collaborative effort. Please visit the following links to see what part you can play in your own health and safety, or that of a child or advisee.

• Students, Interns, & Volunteers
• Parents
• Advisors

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Individual health and personal safety are of utmost importance before, during and after an overseas program. Although risks associated with traveling can never be eliminated, IEP stresses that proper preparation, a comprehensive support network, and wise decisions drastically reduce the possibility that a student will become a victim of crime, accidents or illness. We encourage all students to discuss their health and safety with their parents or guardian, home study abroad office, and personal doctors and counselors.

IEP is committed to offering the necessary resources to students, parents, advisors and faculty as they relate to in-country emergency contacts and support services, travel and medical insurance, country-specific information, and additional web resources. Prior to departure, all students will be issued a packet with information about the, program details, health & safety issues, culture shock & re-entry, transportation, accommodation, and more.

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1. Control the things you can control and don't panic.

Most preventative measures you take while abroad are common sense, but it is helpful to identify potential threats or problems and have a general response. What if you lose your wallet? What if you need to see a doctor? What do you do if someone approaches you on the street? In an emergency situation, your first reaction may be to panic. However, think first and then act.

2. Don't be an obvious foreigner. In other words, "that" guy or girl.

It is a fact that you will likely stand out no matter what you do. Chances are you look, talk, and act differently from the local people. So how can you blend in a bit more? Leave t-shirts or clothing with large corporate or university logos at home. Being loud and boisterous draws attention to you in a negative way. Be aware of where and when you use your camera.  In a dangerous neighborhood or on public transportation, for example, is not a good time to snap a photo. Observe the local people and how they handle themselves before acting in a way that may be "normal" at your home university or city.

3. Leave jewelry and other flashy expensive accessories at home.

This point is especially important in developing areas of the world. To a potential thief, you are more or less visibly displaying that you have money. This means leaving your prized pearls, grandma’s diamonds, and flashy gold accessories behind. Wear local, inexpensive jewelry and have fun accessorizing like a local in the process!

4. Keep copies of your passport and credit cards and hide the original.

Make 4 copies of your passport. Give one to IEP, one to the person that you list as your emergency contact, keep one in your baggage, and carry one on your body. After going through customs, keep your original copy in a safe place in your dorm, hotel, apartment or homestay. Never travel with your passport if you do not need to use it that day. Keep copies of the front and back of your credit cards with your passport copy in your luggage and one on your body. There is no need to submit a copy of your credit cards to IEP.

5. Listen to your gut.

Never ignore your sixth sense or intuition. If you feel alarmed or spooked, there is probably a reason for it, even if you cannot identify that reason at the time. Stop and calmly think for a few seconds, observe and assess the situation around you before deciding what your options are for getting to a safer place. Make a decision and act.

6. Know where your embassy and consulates are.

IEP will give you the address, telephone number and operating hours for the embassy or consulate in your area in your pre-departure packet and an emergency card to keep in your wallet or purse. In the unfortunate event that you lose a passport, visa, or need emergency medical or legal assistance, your embassy or consulate is there to help.

7. Become aware of real security or health threats.

Before you set foot into the country in which you will study, intern or volunteer, do your research! What is happening politically? What is the climate like? Are you able to eat typical foods of that country? Are you allergic or prone to a certain illness? Are you ready to travel to a more challenging location (where English is not spoken by a large part of the population, or in a developing country)? What is the transportation like and are you familiar with a safe way to get from point A to point B? Your pre-departure packet, this website, and orientation should answer most of these questions, however, the Internet is full of good resources to help you get started! Check out the Resources section.

8. Avoid known hotspots and travel with a buddy.

You probably have a good idea about what parts of your home city that you should not travel to.  But when you travel to a new city, you might not necessarily know before you go. Ask your local resident director or staff person what parts of town you should avoid. Always use common sense, if you wander into an area and observe that you may be at a higher risk in that area, do not convey that you are afraid but get to a safer area as quickly as possible. Always travel with a buddy and do not walk by yourself at night.

9. Comply with the IEP code of conduct and emergency procedures given to you.

Even though forms and policies and procedures all seem extremely boring, they are put into place to help you and IEP best prepare for your overseas experience. The personal decisions that you make in regards to alcohol, drugs, and the people that you hang out with are perhaps the greatest contributors to your health and safety. Traveling overseas on a study, internship or volunteer program requires a greater degree of independence, which also comes with a greater responsibility, as it relates to the consequences of personal decisions. Please CAREFULLY review IEP's Policies & Practices under the third tab below.

10. Be aware of your surroundings and their daily effect on your health.

Understand what type of environment you will be in on a daily basis. Within the first week of your overseas experience, you will be able to quickly assess your surroundings. However, before you go, it is important to know the answers to the following questions: Is the water safe to drink? Is medical care readily available? If you have a pre-existing medical condition or physical or emotional needs, have you informed the people that can help you in your situation? (Please review the Medical Self-Assessment Form) Have you packed clothing and shoes that are appropriate for the climate and activities you will be participating in? If you are aware of your surroundings, you will likely avoid preventable illnesses and unnecessary discomforts.

*Parts of this section were taken from an article written by Malcolm Nance and Lisa Hughes entitled "Top Ten Ways to Not Become a Victim of Crime Around the World."

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Most people experience the ups and downs of cultural adjustment or "culture shock", so the best thing to do is to expect it. Many people end up comparing everything with how it's done "back home," as they go through stages of loving the new culture, and having difficulty accepting why things are done differently than what they are used to. More serious troubles might include bouts of depression and doubt.

Again, this is a normal process for travelers, especially when they are in a foreign country for an extended period of time. Try to remain open; be an observer and learn to appreciate the differences.

The study, internship or volunteer program may take place in a country where English is the second or third language spoken. In fact, not everyone is going to speak English. Therefore, it is important to learn some basic conversational phrases at minimum. This communicates respect for the culture and an effort to integrate into the local community.

Experts have suggested that there are four stages of culture shock:

• Initial euphoria
• Irritability and hostility
• Gradual adjustment
• Adaptation

Almost everyone experiences culture shock to some degree. It can be frustrating and confusing. But there are positive steps that can be taken to minimize the impact.

• Realize that this is normal and that you will live through it.
• Be open-minded and ready to learn. Realize that there are different ways to do things and readjust to think in terms of "different" and not "better" or "worse."
• Research your new culture. You can begin today by reading as much as you can about the culture that you will be experiencing.
• Look for logical reasons for behaviors in the new culture that you may find strange. With a little analysis, you may find that these different behaviors don't seem so strange after all.
• Above all, flexibility, humor, humility and open-mindedness will be your most valuable traits. These may have even been the key qualities that led you to travel in the first place!

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Program participants will have free time to travel on all study, internship or volunteer programs. This includes participation in local and domestic activities as well as travel outside of the host country. Independent travel can be an extremely rewarding experience for students, as they have a chance to explore the cultures of their host country and surrounding areas. However, the risks of independent travel are the sole responsibility of the participant.

What may be safe travel arrangements for one individual may not be safe for another due to individual maturity, experience, and personal limitations. Students should be candid and realistic about their ability to travel independently and exercise all safety precautions while making travel arrangements. IEP recommends that the students discuss and inform their independent travel arrangements with their parents and home study abroad advisors.

IEP staff and affiliates may verbally give examples of past students who have traveled independently or distribute literature highlighting typical destinations in a particular city or country. However, any discussion between a student and an IEP staff member or affiliate regarding independent travel is not a personal recommendation or endorsement. All literature and discussions on personal travel are meant to be resources for the student to enable them to make independent decisions regarding personal travel.

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Alcohol

In most countries, the legal drinking age is 18 years or younger. This naturally means that most students participating on a study, internship or volunteer program will be of legal drinking age. However, it is important to note that abuse of alcohol is grounds for dismissal from a program (please see Code of Conduct in Forms) at the discretion of the on-site staff or faculty member. Abuse can be defined as any action that puts the participant or others in danger as the result of intoxication. It is important for students to avoid public intoxication and to be aware that they are also held liable for their actions in the United States and at their home institutions.

Drugs

The possession and/or use of illegal substances is prohibited at all times on all programs. The use of illegal substances is grounds for immediate dismissal at the cost of the participant.

Excursions

In the event that a participant may need medical attention during an excursion, the local staff member or faculty will accompany the participant to a medical facility. In the instance that the staff member or faculty is the only adult-member accompanying the group, then that member may grant leadership to one of the program participants. The chosen participant will work with the staff or faculty member to determine the continuation of the excursion and establish a meeting point at which the group will reconvene with the member. In most instances, the staff or faculty member will guide the group back to the program headquarters or lodging while they take the medical victim directly to the appropriate facilities.

In-Country Staff

IEP utilizes in-country staff in all of our program locations. On most programs, these individuals are native to the area and have been working with students for a considerable duration of time. The in-country staff meets each individual student upon arrival, conducts an orientation session specific to the area with them, and discusses safety protocols for their entire duration of their program. Each staff member has home and cell phone numbers, which are provided to all participants. Staff members are on hand to work with participants if an emergency, psychological or health concern arises. Staff members will work with the student in-country and immediately contact the US office to advise of the situation overseas. On all programs, staff members are responsible for the typical issues that arise on the home university campus as well as the risks that arise due to living in a foreign country and an unfamiliar locale. On short-term faculty-led programs, the faculty member provides the in-country support and expertise as it relates to program related activities and excursions.

Program and Location Selections

All program locations are carefully considered and reviewed prior to accepting participants on any given program. The Study Abroad Advisory Board Committee at Jacksonville University has accredited all academic programs prior to the addition of the location site. IEP staff members review site locations annually and make necessary adjustments and improvements on existing programs.

Lodging

IEP utilizes various housing options in all program locations. In certain locations on-campus housing is utilized and an on-campus residential life office is on hand 24-7 to handle any housing concerns that may arise. In those locations where apartments or homestays are utilized, the in-country staff members are the immediate contact for all emergency situations. All housing options have been visited and approved prior to housing participants in their desired locations. Homestay families are given strict interviews and chosen based on their police background check and local recommendations.

Medical Facilities

Prior to departure, all staff and faculty members are given information on local medical facilities and in-country procedures on administering a student under medical emergencies. Hospital locations and procedures are discussed as well as insurance information provided to all program participants.

Parents/Guardians

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under the applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights are transferred to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level.

Upon applying, all students are asked if information can be released to parents upon request from their parents/guardians. In the event of an emergency or health concern, the participant involved would be requested to immediately contact their parents/guardians by the in-country staff member.

Program Dismissal

If a student is asked to leave the program due to disciplinary reasons, no refund will be given and the student will be responsible to pay for their return arrangements. The following warnings will be issued by the in-country staff or faculty member at their discretion. In the event of severe misconduct, IEP reserves the right to dismiss a participant without the verbal or written warning at the cost of the participant.

• 1. A verbal warning will be issued to the participant and an email detailing the verbal warning and participant's response will be sent to IEP’s office in Jacksonville, Florida.
• 2. A written warning will be issued to the participant and the IEP office staff.
• 3. Program dismissal. See below for the procedure for dismissal.

• The IEP in-country staff member will discuss the situation with the participant and go over waivers and pre-departure details with the participant.
• The IEP in-country staff member will then have the participant sign a document stating they have been asked to depart the program for disciplinary reasons, previously signed on the program waivers.
• The IEP in-country staff member will contact the IEP emergency phone to inform the IEP staff that the individual will be departing from the program.
• The IEP staff member on call will inform the rest of the IEP team of the situation and contact the participants home institution, if participating in a study abroad program.
• For all JU students, the IEP staff member on call will contact the Vice Presidents Office at JU to inform them of the situation. In the case of a non-JU student, the IEP staff member will notify the emergency contacts listed by the student.
• The student is officially off the program and responsible to pay for 100% of the costs of property damages, airfare, all ground transportation, and any other costs incurred.

IEP registers all program participants with the appropriate US Embassies in country. In the event of an emergency, in-country staff members will work with the local consulates to aid in the emergency procedures for US citizens traveling abroad.

IEP uses the same guidelines when arranging transportation for any given program as when choosing a desired location. IEP only arranges transportation to/from a destination and within a country with companies that are valued as safe and reliable. The selected companies are chosen based on prior safety records, insurance coverage and their overall company responsiveness to our program needs.

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Travel

IEP provides each program participant with travel insurance on all study, internship and volunteer programs abroad. Each participant will be issued an insurance card prior to departure, which is proof of the insurance. This card cannot be used as a form of payment or as an official claim in-country. Should a student wish to submit a claim, they will have to do so upon their return to the United States. Travel insurance provides coverage for baggage delays, passport replacement, and 24/7 travel assistance worldwide.

Medical

In many cases, a participant’s home insurance provider will cover the student, intern or volunteer while traveling overseas.  However, IEP advises students to contact their home medical insurance provider to confirm what coverage is available to them. In the event that a participant’s home medical insurance provider does not carry international medical insurance, IEP issues a list of study abroad medical providers that participants can use during their program. In some instances, such as Australia and New Zealand, Overseas Student Health Coverage is required for visa purposes and students will be billed directly by the overseas institution for the coverage. IEP Travel Insurance provides the following medical coverage: emergency medical evacuation, accidental death & dismemberment, repatriation of mortal remains, in-hospital indemnity-sickness, and accident medical maximums. Please contact IEP for specific coverage information. Additional information about insurance coverage for overseas programs, visit www.insuranceabroad.com.

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Preparation & Prevention

In order for IEP to provide the best possible support and assistance to students, interns and volunteers before, during and after their program, it is essential that the participant communicate with IEP any concerns or questions as it relates to their personal health and well-being. It is essential that the participant provide a fair and accurate health self-assessment prior to leaving for their program. Program participants can download and complete a Medical Self-Assessment form under the Apply section of our website.

Should a concern arise, an IEP staff member will discuss the individual’s needs and what resources are available to them before, during and after their program. While IEP staff can offer support and help form a plan of action, we will in no way give specific medical advice to any participant. Instead, we encourage participants to consult the medical professionals and counselors at their home campus and community. Most colleges and universities in the United States have helpful information about health and safety at the health center and study abroad office. Make use of your local resources!

Before leaving the United States to go on a study, internship or volunteer program, it is essential that the participant honestly evaluate what their specific needs or challenges may be in regards to the country, city, or university they plan to attend.

Jet Lag

Students may experience jet lag when crossing multiple time zones because the body’s natural rhythms and sleep cycle become out of sync. Symptoms of jet lag may include; drowsiness, insomnia, irritability, muscle soreness, or indigestion. To help offset jet lag, students should get plenty of rest before departing for their flight; drink plenty of liquids before and during the flight, and fight the urge to sleep upon arrival by joining in the regular activities in that time zone.

Clean Water

Students should also exercise caution when drinking the local water. Research the cleanliness of the water beforehand and be mindful about eating salads and fresh fruits and vegetables at restaurants where the produce may have been washed by the local water. This is of particular importance in developing countries.

Travel Clinics

IEP does not give specific medical recommendations to students. Instead, we refer them to medical professionals. To find a travel clinic near you, visit http://www.travelersvaccines.com/en/Clinics/clinic_locator.cfm.

Travel Clinic for those residing in Jacksonville, Florida
Travel Clinic Jacksonville
6800 Southpoint Pkwy Suite 200
Jacksonville, FL 32216

or

1375 Roberts Drive, Suite 206                                                                                                                             Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

904.722.8747

To find out information specific to American citizens abroad, visit http://www.travel.state.gov/ To find out more about medical vaccinations or concerns for certain regions of the world, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/.

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An emergency is any situation where the participant’s health and safety have been compromised. This includes medical emergencies and hospitalization, crime incidents, sexual assault, natural disasters, missing persons, political upheaval or evacuation, death, etc. This does not include a burned out light bulb, failing a test, missing a bus, or any other circumstance where your health and safety are not immediately compromised.

During your program, if you or the people you are with are in an emergency, do the following:

• If able, leave the situation and move to a safer place such as a well-lit public area or government building.
• Contact your on-site emergency contact, police, ambulance, or embassy, as the situation requires.
• Call the IEP 24/7 emergency number if the on-site contact is unavailable. Please see Emergency Contacts.
• File a report with the appropriate authorities and the in-country staff.
• Call home to ensure your safety to family and/or friends.
• Follow up with in-country staff member to discuss continuance of program participation, counseling options, and further assistance.

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During Office Hours Monday through Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 p.m EST. Call 904-256-7295. After hours call 24/7 IEP Emergency Line: 904-859-7082

*This line is to be used only in the case of an emergency. All non-emergency calls received on this line will be re-directed to the office line.

Advice on Selecting the Emergency Contacts

* When designating an Emergency contact, students should select a parent or guardian who will be available to offer support for the duration of their study, intern, or volunteer program. * In the case of a medical emergency, a parent or family member is the best emergency contact. * If the student does not attend Jacksonville University, they are also asked to designate a home university contact. IEP recommends that a student list their home institution’s study abroad office as the home university contact.

As your student prepares for his or her study, internship or volunteer program, they may look to you for support and advice. If the idea of your son or daughter traveling overseas makes you uneasy, or if this is the first time they have been outside of the United States, take the time to go over your student’s individual health and personal safety with them. Risks associated with traveling can never be completely eliminated. However your son or daughter has the ability to make decisions as they live and travel in a foreign country that will drastically reduce the possibility that they will become a victim of crime, accidents or illness.

We encourage you to discuss health and safety with your student and point them towards the resources on their home campus or in your community that will help them prepare for their overseas experience. Keep in mind that no matter how much you have researched health and safety, your student is ultimately the one participating on the program and needs to enter his or her program with the mindset of personal responsibility and preparedness.

IEP is committed to offering the necessary resources to students, parents, advisors and faculty as they relate to in-country emergency contacts and support services, travel and medical insurance, country-specific information, and additional web resources. Prior to departure, all students will be issued a packet with information about the program details, health & safety issues, culture shock & re-entry, transportation, accommodation, and more.

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An emergency is any situation where the participant’s health and safety have been compromised. This includes medical emergencies and hospitalization, crime incidents, sexual assault, natural disasters, missing persons, political upheaval or evacuation, death, etc.

Prior to departure, all students will also be issued emergency contact information with a 24/7 IEP Emergency line, in-country contact, and the local embassy or consulate. Additionally, specific instructions are given to the students about what to do in the case of an emergency.  All IEP staff members and faculty are committed to doing everything in our power to act immediately and appropriately if an emergency occurs.

Take note that students are instructed to contact their in-country staff members and the 24/7 IEP emergency contact number prior to notifying their parents. In the case of a true emergency, the trained in-country staff are better equipped to secure your son or daughter’s safety. Students are strongly encouraged to notify their parents after the appropriate authorities have been notified.

If a family emergency or some other emergency occurs in the United States during the time when your student is abroad, please notify IEP’s office immediately so that we can in-turn notify our in-country staff and take necessary action. The IEP emergency number can also be utilized in the case of a stateside emergency situation. Emergency Contact Information seen in the tab above.

For all other non-emergency related issues, please contact our office.

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Individual health and personal safety are of utmost importance before, during and after an overseas program. Although risks associated with traveling can never be eliminated, IEP stresses that proper preparation, a comprehensive support network, and wise decisions drastically reduce the possibility that a student will become a victim of crime, accidents or illness. We encourage all students to discuss their health and safety with their parents or guardian, home study abroad office, and personal doctors and counselors.

IEP is committed to offering the necessary resources to students, parents, advisors and faculty as they relate to in-country emergency contacts and support services, travel and medical insurance, country-specific information, and additional web resources. Prior to departure, all students will be issued a packet with information about the program details, health & safety issues, culture shock & re-entry, transportation, accommodation, and more.

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