Program Safety

LEARNING CONTENT

Travelers/Health Insurance   

To support a healthy and safe experience, all participants are required to have health and accident insurance while participating in a study abroad program.   

For UP administered faculty-led study abroad experiences, University of Portland provides a comprehensive health insurance and travel assistance plan to all students as well as faculty through our partner CISI. This is not an optional benefit – every participant on a UP administered study abroad program will be covered by the UP Study Abroad Insurance and the cost is included in the program fee. Faculty, students, and parents are strongly advised to become familiar with the CISI plan’s benefits by reading the information provided at least 30-days prior to departure.   

Note: All study abroad program participants will be automatically enrolled and will have access to an individual ID card that includes contact information for plan services. Participants on University of Portland study abroad programs do not need to sign up for the insurance plan.   

Safe Behavior   

Certain behaviors and activities cannot be condoned or implicitly supported by the University of Portland because they carry potential unacceptable risk both to the individual and to the University. Participants need to be alerted to the dangers of such activities during orientation and as necessary throughout the program. Because neither the University nor the faculty can control the actions of any individual, faculty must ask students who intend to engage in any risky activities to sign a statement to the effect that they are doing so outside the auspices of the University of Portland study abroad program. The signed statement thus documents that the student was informed of the potential risks of his/her behavior. Such activities include, but are not limited to:   

• Bungee jumping/Sky diving   
• Participating in political demonstrations   
• Scuba diving   
• Renting and operating motor vehicles of any type   
• Solitary travel   
• Other ‘extreme sports’   

COMMUNITY BUILDING   

Seasoned Study Abroad faculty report their biggest challenges abroad are not public transportation strikes, fluctuating currencies, or language barriers, but student behavior problems. Those who have successfully traveled with students for many years advocate discussing appropriate student conduct and behavior-related problems prior to departure as well as upon arrival. In order to help alleviate some of the pressure related to this, we require all students to submit a Behavior Agreement prior to departure.  

To begin, faculty should reinforce the message that study abroad is an academic experience and that academic responsibilities take priority over personal interests. Planting this idea helps to combat the occasional notion that study abroad is simply a travel opportunity. Also, faculty should refrain from referring to the experience as a “trip” and instead use the word “program,” as it denotes a difference between study abroad and a vacation. The concept of students as “cultural ambassadors” should be reinforced, emphasizing that their conduct will be seen as representative of the United States as well as the state of Oregon and the University of Portland. Students need to be reminded that while the consequences of poor behavior at UP reflect solely on themselves, their misconduct on the program will be attributed to the entire group. In addition, violations of the UP-Student Code of Conduct abroad may also have ramifications when they return to campus.   

In addition, be honest with students about how their behavior reflects on the faculty to their local colleagues. Most importantly, participants need to understand that the viability of a program rests in their hands. Offensive or indifferent behavior resulting in negative evaluations by colleagues at the host site could lead to the discontinuation of a program in the future.   

In addition to the Behavior Agreement, the faculty might consider creating a “student-faculty agreement,” specifically tailored to their program. This can be created in advance or employed by a method of community building like that used in residence halls. Ask students to identify acceptable and unacceptable behaviors from which the group can agree upon and create a “contract” that the students sign prior to departure or on-site. In addition to the expected, “don’t be late for bus departures,” ask students to decide on actions to avoid such situations. For example, students can agree to check that everyone is awake at a certain time. The students may also agree upon consequences and/or group response to repeated offenses. Likewise, students should be informed of the procedure to follow if they experience the consequences (for instance, if they are left behind because they missed the field trip departure). There is no need for complete agreement – a majority vote should be the desired goal. A sample student-faculty agreement will be shared during the Study Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation.    

It may be more important to emphasize what the students should do, rather than what they should not do. This applies to bystanders. For instance, if one student sees another student displaying inappropriate behavior, that student should step forward to stop it. Faculty should encourage this type of response, as well as the peer pressure that students with leadership skills can provide.   

If faculty experience excessive complaining, the group could set specific times during the day when all complaining is allowed – then none is allowed throughout the rest of the day. This may seem like an extreme action, but it has been proven to work.   

Faculty can ask students to discuss how personality conflicts can undermine the atmosphere of the program. Faculty Leaders should require students to determine procedures and methods for dealing with personality conflicts. Although it may seem like common sense, students may need to be regularly reminded to:   

• Be polite and listen to one another.   
• Respect each other, leaders, and local people affiliated with the program.   
• Honor diversity and differences within the group.   
• Fight fairly and attack the problem, not people.   
• Look for compromises.   

It can also be advisable to address sex and dating among program participants as well as with locals. Pre-departure discussion regarding the local culture’s receptivity to public displays of affection, gays and lesbiansLGBTQIA+ people, and other issues may help to alleviate misunderstandings.   

Faculty should address any concerns about alcohol misuse and abuse up front. In addition to posing a health and safety risk, alcohol abuse is the primary source of behavioral problems and personality conflicts between group members. By addressing this issue in advance, faculty not only inform students of their concerns, but also alert them to possible past problems that have had a negative effect on the program. Faculty state that this proactive approach has been successful in reducing the number of alcohol-related problems.   

To begin this discussion, it is helpful to ask students to discuss the consequences of alcohol misuse, such as the following:   

• Tardiness or poor attendance at classes and activities.   
• Negative student interactions because of alcohol-induced “bad” behavior.   
• Animosity/break down of community among members due to such behavior.   
• Poor reflection of group to local community/faculty/contacts.   
• Undue stress to Faculty Leader/local coordinator that requires excessive attention and time.   

For study abroad programs, it can be useful to brainstorm with students on their perception of alcohol use in the host culture, comparing and/or contrasting with alcohol use in the United States, then sharing knowledge of alcohol use in the host culture, comparing and/or contrasting this with the students’ perceptions. In addition, students should be reminded of the difference between alcohol use and alcohol misuse/abuse. Excessive drunkenness is not tolerated in any country, and is, in fact, considered an illness/addiction in most cultures.   

Lastly, this conversation should be reviewed before and after arrival on-site. Faculty Leaders should be alert to group dynamics and address any concerns they may perceive. Do not make light of incidents of abuse (such as joking about hangovers). Make sure stated consequences are followed up on. Follow previously stated guidelines if students violate agreed-upon rules.