After successfully launching their website last year, International Safety and Security has channeled their efforts into improving trainings and policies around international travel abroad. International Safety and Security currently offers trainings for faculty and staff that are taking students abroad on short-term faculty led programs or research excursions. These programs can range from one to three weeks, often covering a specific topic or a set of several courses. International Safety and Security staff were able to train 88 faculty and staff in the 2018-2019 academic year. They also trained students and leaders to be prepared for over 200,000 travel days.
International Safety & Security Coordinator Gains Hands-on Experience
The Illinois College of ACES sent 20 students to study abroad in Thessaloniki, Greece. These students studied the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle on their trip. Students were able to spend 13 days receiving guided experiential learning about lifestyle decisions that impact health.
Rachael Dean, the new Coordinator for International Safety and Security, served as the chaperone for this educational trip. Rachael used this opportunity to learn more about health and safety concerns during programming while getting a firsthand look at a faculty-led trip. According to Rachael, "Due to thorough preparation of faculty and students, there were no behavioral or medical incidents on the ACES trip to Greece. Everyone was able to learn and grow in a safe environment."
Looking Ahead
International Safety and Security will spend the majority of the next academic year implementing a new International Travel Policy on the Urbana-Champaign campus. To advance the new policy, the University of Illinois System will pay the International Insurance fee for faculty and staff who enroll for travel after July 31, 2019. International Safety and Security is hoping to enroll more students, faculty, and staff than ever in International Insurance over the next academic year.