Health and Safety
We hold our students’ health and safety in the highest regard. All programs provide information about required immunizations as well as local health and safety conditions. Security is a priority in both the accommodations and classroom environments. Along with the thorough review of health and safety concerns conducted by the GO Program, the students are informed of how they may ensure their health and safety while participating in the program.
Health and Safety FAQ
Q: Is there specific information for my student who takes medications?
A: If your student takes prescription medication or over the counter medication on a regular basis we recommend that your student research their availability and legality in the host country. Specific information is related to the location of and length of time your student will be away - you can find location information here by entering the country and following the link to "Health". We recommend that your student works with your primary care physician regarding medications. This document outlines best practices from the Oversees Security Administration Council: Traveling with Meds (OSAC).pdf. Additional tips can be found here too.
Q: What health insurance is available to cover my student while s/he is abroad?
A: All Susquehanna students are required to have insurance coverage during their study away program. This is different depending on the program type, duration and program provider.
All students are automatically enrolled in the university's EIIA international emergency insurance. EIIA insurance covers emergency medical care, evacuation, and repatriation. If a student needs to use EIIA insurance, they should also contact go.report@susqu.edu, as outlined in the What to Do in an Emergency during GO - Students page.
Some domestic insurance plans will cover students during their international travel - please contact your personal insurance to find out about your coverage internationally.
GO Long and GO Your Way (GOYW) students participating on a 3rd party program provider program should contact their program provider directly for insurance coverage information. Most 3rd party program providers automatically include insurance for the program within their fees.
GO Long students participating on SU-in programs may be required to enroll in specific insurance for VISA purposes; this information will be provided to the student during the application process (the semester prior to departure). Students who require ongoing medical care (i.e. pre-existing condition) may choose to enroll in a short-term international insurance for their time abroad. The SU contact for enrollment is Francia Moyer (moyerf@susqu.edu). There is an additional fee for this coverage; the fee was approx. $60 per month (as of 2022).
Q: Will my student need to receive any immunizations?
A: Immunization requirements vary by country. Students traveling to Europe, Australia and New Zealand typically do not need any immunizations. Your student may be informed by their program what immunizations are necessary for their particular location. We recommend that students contact their primary care physician and look at the CDC website for information on required and recommended immunizations. For more information on country specific immunizations, please visit the https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list/.
Q: How does Susquehanna make decisions about its study abroad programs?
A: As part of normal protocol, we continuously review information from the U.S. Department of State, Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), Risk Management and Security Advisors, news accounts, and our local partners in all countries where our students travel. GO staff receives real-time updates regarding health and safety within the countries where we send students. We also are in at least weekly contact with our in-country partners.
Q: What training is required for students and program leaders before departure?
A: The Office of Global Programs coordinates the following:
Q: How should my student keep updated on current emergency events and travel warnings during their program?
A: The US State Department’s Smart Travelers Enrollment Program (S.T.E.P.) sends registered travelers information about emergencies in country.
Q: What communication is required of my student while on program to SU?
A: Students are asked to follow the specific steps below while on program:
Q: Who is the on-site contact for my student while away and what information is generally provided on site?
A: Each program has an on-site contact who is readily available to aid the student in case of an emergency however, the GO Program is available to, and in contact with, our students periodically during their time away.
Please contact the GO Program directly by emailing goprogram@susuq.edu or by phone 570-372-4697 with additional questions or concerns.
Health and Safety FAQ
Q: Is there specific information for my student who takes medications?
A: If your student takes prescription medication or over the counter medication on a regular basis we recommend that your student research their availability and legality in the host country. Specific information is related to the location of and length of time your student will be away - you can find location information here by entering the country and following the link to "Health". We recommend that your student works with your primary care physician regarding medications. This document outlines best practices from the Oversees Security Administration Council: Traveling with Meds (OSAC).pdf. Additional tips can be found here too.
Q: What health insurance is available to cover my student while s/he is abroad?
A: All Susquehanna students are required to have insurance coverage during their study away program. This is different depending on the program type, duration and program provider.
All students are automatically enrolled in the university's EIIA international emergency insurance. EIIA insurance covers emergency medical care, evacuation, and repatriation. If a student needs to use EIIA insurance, they should also contact go.report@susqu.edu, as outlined in the What to Do in an Emergency during GO - Students page.
*Students participating on a domestic program in the United States or outlying territories must secure and present proof of medical insurance before departure to the Global Programs office. Note - the EIIA policy does include emergency evacuation for students on domestic programs.
Some domestic insurance plans will cover students during their international travel - please contact your personal insurance to find out about your coverage internationally.
GO Long and GO Your Way (GOYW) students participating on a 3rd party program provider program should contact their program provider directly for insurance coverage information. Most 3rd party program providers automatically include insurance for the program within their fees.
GO Long students participating on SU-in programs may be required to enroll in specific insurance for VISA purposes; this information will be provided to the student during the application process (the semester prior to departure). Students who require ongoing medical care (i.e. pre-existing condition) may choose to enroll in a short-term international insurance for their time abroad. The SU contact for enrollment is Francia Moyer (moyerf@susqu.edu). There is an additional fee for this coverage; the fee was approx. $60 per month (as of 2022).
Q: Will my student need to receive any immunizations?
A: Immunization requirements vary by country. Students traveling to Europe, Australia and New Zealand typically do not need any immunizations. Your student may be informed by their program what immunizations are necessary for their particular location. We recommend that students contact their primary care physician and look at the CDC website for information on required and recommended immunizations. For more information on country specific immunizations, please visit the https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list/.
Q: How does Susquehanna make decisions about its study abroad programs?
A: As part of normal protocol, we continuously review information from the U.S. Department of State, Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), Risk Management and Security Advisors, news accounts, and our local partners in all countries where our students travel. GO staff receives real-time updates regarding health and safety within the countries where we send students. We also are in at least weekly contact with our in-country partners.
Q: What training is required for students and program leaders before departure?
A: The Office of Global Programs coordinates the following:
For GO Short students:
Student take a program-specific preparation course before departure with the program leader. The SU faculty and staff program leaders have been trained on health and safety protocols prior to departure. All students are given general country specific health and safety information during the course.
For GO Long/GOYW students:
While students take a Preparation for Global Opportunities course focusing on general approaches to culture; they receive travel health and safety information during a required in-person training prior to departure. The professional staff leading the health and safety trainings have prior experience in risk management.
Student take a program-specific preparation course before departure with the program leader. The SU faculty and staff program leaders have been trained on health and safety protocols prior to departure. All students are given general country specific health and safety information during the course.
For GO Long/GOYW students:
While students take a Preparation for Global Opportunities course focusing on general approaches to culture; they receive travel health and safety information during a required in-person training prior to departure. The professional staff leading the health and safety trainings have prior experience in risk management.
Q: How should my student keep updated on current emergency events and travel warnings during their program?
A: The US State Department’s Smart Travelers Enrollment Program (S.T.E.P.) sends registered travelers information about emergencies in country.
For GO Long/GOYW students:
All GO Long and GOYW students are required to register themselves with the U.S. State Department's Smart Travelers Enrollment Program (S.T.E.P.) before departure and for each side trip during their time away, so that regular updates regarding safety and health abroad can be sent to them directly.
For GO Short students:
All GO Short students are registered with S.T.E.P. by the GO Program.
All GO Long and GOYW students are required to register themselves with the U.S. State Department's Smart Travelers Enrollment Program (S.T.E.P.) before departure and for each side trip during their time away, so that regular updates regarding safety and health abroad can be sent to them directly.
For GO Short students:
All GO Short students are registered with S.T.E.P. by the GO Program.
Q: What communication is required of my student while on program to SU?
A: Students are asked to follow the specific steps below while on program:
- SU students are required to alert the GO Program and their program provider of all regional travel plans during their GO program (side-trips) BEFORE departure by logging back into their APPLY TO GO application and completing the side-trips form. If students are unable to access the form, they should send an email to goprogram@susqu.edu with their side trip location, dates, transportation, accommodation and contact number.
- As noted during the health and safety training, when there is a safety or health incident in a student's region, country or city, they are required to check in with their host university and email the GO Program at (goprogram@susqu.edu) to let us know that they are safe.
Q: Who is the on-site contact for my student while away and what information is generally provided on site?
A: Each program has an on-site contact who is readily available to aid the student in case of an emergency however, the GO Program is available to, and in contact with, our students periodically during their time away.
For GO Short students:
GO Short program are led by faculty and staff and they are available 24/7 to the student on-site. All programs have an orientation upon arrival, which covers logistics, culture, and health and safety on-site.
For GO Long students:
GO Long programs have on-site providers and staff who work directly with the students and provide emergency assistance, if needed. All programs have an orientation upon arrival, which covers logistics, culture, and health and safety on-site.
For GOYW students:
Student who participate in a GOYW program facilitated by a provider or hosted by a university will have the same resources as GO Long students. Self-designed GOYW students must share their itinerary with GO Program before departure and follow the guidelines as outlined in the health and safety training.
GO Short program are led by faculty and staff and they are available 24/7 to the student on-site. All programs have an orientation upon arrival, which covers logistics, culture, and health and safety on-site.
For GO Long students:
GO Long programs have on-site providers and staff who work directly with the students and provide emergency assistance, if needed. All programs have an orientation upon arrival, which covers logistics, culture, and health and safety on-site.
For GOYW students:
Student who participate in a GOYW program facilitated by a provider or hosted by a university will have the same resources as GO Long students. Self-designed GOYW students must share their itinerary with GO Program before departure and follow the guidelines as outlined in the health and safety training.
Please contact the GO Program directly by emailing goprogram@susuq.edu or by phone 570-372-4697 with additional questions or concerns.