We consider the health and safety of students on education abroad opportunities one of our top priorities. We encourage students to be proactive in planning for a healthy and safe international experience. When preparing to spend time in another country where you might encounter significant language barriers, this can be even more important. A few things to consider when you are preparing for your experience include:

Dietary Issues: Accommodations for dietary restrictions or preferences may be more challenging abroad. The ability of the program to meet or arrange to accommodate your dietary restrictions or preferences is dependent on other providers (e.g., local restaurants, lodging facilities that provide meals, and so on), and UW-River Falls cannot guarantee that those facilities can accommodate your restrictions or preferences, whether in part or in full. If you have a dietary restriction (e.g., Celiac), or have dietary preferences (e.g., Keto), you should consider the extent to which your experience could be negatively impacted if those restrictions or preferences are not met. If you have an allergy or restriction and are exposed to a food allergen, for example, you should have translated materials to communicate this information to those who will be preparing and serving your food. You can purchase translation cards for a variety of food & drug allergies, special diets and medical needs. You will also want to discuss with your doctor how to manage your symptoms while abroad and ensure you have whatever medications you may need in the event of an emergency. UW-River Falls will not provide refunds for dietary purposes. While UW-River Falls may make reasonable efforts to accommodate, or arrange for accommodation of, your dietary restrictions or preferences, you are ultimately responsible for ensuring those restrictions or needs can be met while participating in the program.

Preventive Treatment: Depending on your destination(s), there might be required vaccines. Some countries do not require any, beyond being up-to-date on your routine vaccines, but the Center for Disease Control does make a number of preventive treatment recommendations. If you choose to seek any preventive treatment, set up a travel appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Some treatments require more than one dose over many months so it is important to plan ahead! You are solely responsible for ensuring you have the appropriate vaccines required, and/or recommended by the CDC, prior to traveling to your destination, and for any personal medical outcomes in connection with obtaining – or refraining from – such vaccination(s).

Accommodations: Each country determines its own laws and requirements regarding disability accommodations. Please recognize the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) only covers disability protections in the United States and accommodations do not necessarily translate unilaterally in other countries. If you want to discuss your access needs further before traveling to help you best determine your options, please contact the UW-River Falls Disability Resource Center. Travel to many countries comes with the expectation that the accommodations available in the United States might not be available abroad. Many locations in Europe, for example, are not wheelchair accessible. Locations in developing countries might lack the same accommodations available at home.

General Health Considerations: If you have any health issues, you’ll want to discuss with your doctor how you plan to successfully manage your treatment plan while abroad, including a review of your current medication list to identify how you will manage your medications while abroad. You will also want to transport any prescription medications in their original containers within your carry-on luggage, and have arrangements if possible with your doctor to replace them if they are lost. All of these arrangements should be discussed at your travel appointment with your doctor. Transportation and possession of prescription medications in connection with participating in the program are ultimately subject to applicable laws, which may differ from those of the United States. You are responsible for understanding and complying with the laws applicable to your prescription medications at all times.

Rest assured, many students, faculty, and staff have traveled abroad while successfully navigating the considerations listed above. They do not preclude your participation but are important factors for you to individually consider before committing to the program. There are also offices on campus you could consult prior to making a decision (e.g., Student Health and Counseling, and the Disability Resource Center) to help ensure you have the most successful, safe, and healthy, experience possible while abroad.

The following items are a few of the most important tasks related to your health, safety and security:

1. Consider the points above prior to submitting an application for your experience.
2. Fully and accurately complete the Medical & Disability Self-Assessment questionnaire in your online application. Please note this material will appear in your application after you are accepted to study abroad.
3. Consult with your medical professional(s) about any medical needs, and how to manage these while abroad.
4. Learn about your destination, including any health or safety concerns, via the travel.state.gov website.
5. Review guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for travelers health in your destination.

In addition to your own personal planning, the Office of International Education provides a variety of resources related to your health and safety abroad: 

Insurance

The University of Wisconsin System mandates that all University of Wisconsin students studying/traveling abroad under a UW sponsored program or abroad experience must be enrolled in health insurance through the University's provider, Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). The policy has provisions for medical coverage, emergency evacuation and repatriation. Students may also want to consider purchasing trip cancellation and/or trip interruption insurance. More information about insurance can be found here.

Travel Advisories

The U.S. Department of State issues Travel Advisories to provide information about the relative safety of traveling to various international destinations. Learn more about travel advisories, and UWRF policy related to travel advisories here.

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program

All students participating in a UWRF education abroad program are enrolled by the Office of International Education in the U.S. Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). The STEP service allows U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate of their destination. The students will receive updated information and travel alerts from the STEP program should a global situation trigger such information. In addition to students' enrollment by the Office of International Education for their official program location and dates, students are encouraged to personally register any additional travel they may undertake outside official program dates, or beyond the official program location. Registration can be completed here.

Campus Safety

Each year UWRF compiles an annual Security and Fire Safety Report to keep you informed about safety on our campus, including our campus locations abroad.