Safety and Security Abroad

As recent world events have made very clear, there are times when it is difficult to assess the impact of world events on various study abroad locations. The Center for Global Education does its best to help you and your parents assess these situations, whether they occur before you leave for study abroad or while you're there.

Butler University wants students to have international experiences that are educational, life-enriching, and eye-opening. At the same time, we will take all reasonable steps to attempt to assure the safety of students traveling abroad. However, we must remind both students and their parents that ultimately the decision to study abroad and their safety while traveling abroad is their responsibility. Butler cannot guarantee or assure students' safety either at home or abroad, but the University will attempt to provide students with as much relevant information as possible to help them make their best decision for studying abroad. We will be pleased to work with you toward that end.

We receive all routine and emergency postings from the U.S. Department of State's listserv, which issues periodic "Public Announcements" and, when appropriate, more serious "Travel Warnings" about situations that pose potential dangers to Americans abroad. We strongly recommend that you consult the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Counsular Affairs website on your own as you plan your study abroad or when you make travel plans while you're abroad.

The Bureau of Consular Affairs of the U.S. Department of State provides many services to U.S. citizens who are preparing to travel, live, work, or study abroad. It provides Consular Information Sheets for every country of the world and issues travel advisories to alert Americans abroad to a variety of conditions or concerns, such as Public Announcements, Worldwide Cautions, and Travel Warnings.

According to the Bureau, Public Announcements are "a means to disseminate information about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term and/or transnational conditions posing significant risks to the security of American travelers." Worldwide Cautions are a form of Public Announcement.

Travel Warnings, however, are "issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country."

If a U.S. Department of State Public Announcement or Travel Warning is in effect for a particular destination, students are urged to consult the Center for Global Education.

You may also find it helpful to view other governments' opinions on world events. Canada, Australia, and Great Britain have English language sites that provide a slightly different perspective on international affairs. Additional views are provided world wide on the BBC and CNN, and in newspapers such as the Sydney Morning Herald from Australia and the National Post in Canada.

SAFETI Clearinghouse
www.globaled.us/safeti/index.html

Travel Warning on Drugs Abroad
travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html#drug_offenses

Tips for American Students Abroad
travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html#student_travel