Safety Preparation for Education Abroad Students, Advisers and

Campuses AbroadJoseph Brockington, Associate Provost for International

Programs, Kalamazoo College, brocking@kzoo.edu Adam Rubin, Senior Program Director, Africa, Asia Pacific,

and Middle East CIEE International Study Programs, arubin@ciee.org

John Schafer, NYA International: Crisis Prevention and Response, findschafe@gmail.com

Topics for Today Recognize relationships between safety preparation and risk management in education abroad programming.Identify the risks in education abroad programming that can be managed with appropriate safety preparation.Identify resources for safety preparation available to education abroad professionals

Introduction Safety Preparation in Education Abroad is connected to Risk ManagementSafety in Education Abroad begins long before the program start date with careful planning and trainingThe Safety Preparation Process begins with Risk Assessment

Principles for Safety Preparation in Education Abroad Programming 1: On-Site Issues

Including risk assessment during the program development process On-going risk management strategies abroad (i.e. annual contingency planning, staff training, etc.). 

Predeparture Safety PreparationRisk assessment

a step in a risk management procedureis the determination of quantitative or qualitative value of risk related to a concrete situation and a recognized threat (also called hazard).

Crisis Management a step in a Risk Management plan/procedure.

Risk Assessment Matrix

Risk ManagementAfter you assess for risk. How will you manage?

Ignore RemoveEducate (staff, administrators, participants, procedures, e.g. crisis management plans/procedures)Insure Transfer (waivers/releases, participation agreements, informed consent, etc.)Budget

Risk Management Strategies

Train staffStudent orientationsStudent handbooksDevelop procedures/Emergency Plans

Travel Safety StrategiesThe four pillars of of travel safety

1) Risk assessment,  2) Risk awareness, 3) Tracking of students and staff 4) Incident response and reporting

(utilize the fist Risk Assessment and crisis response plan as the foundation)  (Schafer and Rhodes)

Crisis Management StrategiesCrisis: Emergency for which there is no planWho to involve in Planning

Education Abroad staffUniversity LeadershipLawyers/Risk ManagementFacultyInsurance/logistical providers (how will you work with them?)

Principles for Safety Preparation in Education Abroad Programming 2: Predeparture Issues:

Screening students carefully during the program selection/pre-departure phase.  Talking much more with study abroad advisors about the need to apply stricter screening measures for students who have selected a high-risk study abroad destination:  Working with faculty leaders on safety preparation and student screening issues.Safety Preparation, Risk Management, and ADA in student screening

Screening: Take time now to Reduce problems later

“Well, he met the required GPA…”“We are too busy to talk with all of the students…”Destination and program-based screeningDevelop a “Screening Network”Look and listen for “Red Flags”

Pre-DepartureOrientation (students, faculty leaders)Health and Mental Health Follow-Up, Support, and TrainingLegal IssuesDue Diligence

Saying “No,” “Not Now,” or “Not There”NO!NOT NOW!NOT THERE!

ADA and Student Screening

Discrimination: ADA/Section 504 ADA: Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, public service, public accommodations, telecommunications, and transportation.504: Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the administration of programs of colleges that receive federal funds.

ADA/504 & Education AbroadDefinition: A disability is “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities” of an individual; and the definition of impairment includes “contagious diseases, learning disabilities, HIV (whether symptomatic or asymptomatic), drug addiction, and alcoholism.”

ADA/504 & Education Abroad“The ADA specifies ten areas in

which colleges and universities may not discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability:

ADA/504 & Education Abroadeligibility criteria; modifications of policies, practices, and procedures; auxiliary aids and services; examinations and courses; removal of barriers in existing facilities; alternatives to barriers in existing facilities; personal devices and services; assistive technologies; seating in assembly areas; and transportation services.

ADA/504 & Education AbroadA central provision of ADA and Section 504 prohibits discriminating against otherwise-qualified disabled students in admissions decisions. An “otherwise qualified” individual is one who is qualified in spite of (rather than except for) the disability.

ADA/504 & Education AbroadIn the workplace, “otherwise qualified” is often taken to mean that the disabled individual is able to perform the “essential function” of the position.Some universities have carried this over to define an otherwise-qualified student as one who is able to perform the essential function of a student. Colleges are not required to admit disabled students if to do so would require a substantial modification of standards or fundamental alterations in the nature of the program, although they may be required to make reasonable accommodation.

The Americans are Coming!Foreign Universities and ExpectationsManaging expectations of U.S. students

Staff and 24/7 SupportHealth and Mental Health ResourcesSecurityCommunication + Emergency ResponseCost of meeting expectations

Resources available for use in Safety Preparation for Education Abroad Programming

Health and Safety Subcommittee of NAFSA’s Education Abroad Knowledge CommunityOSACSAFTI Website“NGO Security Risk Assessment Guidance”Forum on Education Abroad (membership required)

Discussion

https://reason.kzoo.edu/cip/joe/

ResourcesJohn Schafer, “NGO Security Risk Assessment Guidance,” http://sites.google.com/site/ngoriskassessment/my-forms Health and Safety Subcommittee of NAFSA’s Education Abroad Knowledge Community http://www.nafsa.org/knowledge_community_network.sec/education_abroad_1/managing_an_education/document_library_31/nafsa_leaders/leaders_2006_health/ OSAC www.osac.gov SAFTI Website globaled.us/safeti/ Forum on Education Abroad (if your Institution is a member) http://www.forumea.org/HealthSafetyandSecurity.cfm

Crisis Management ResourcesDebrorah Ajango, (2000) Ed. Lessons Learned: A Guide to Accident Prevention and Crisis Response. Anchorage: University of AlaskaNAFSA EA KC H&S Subcommittee & Resources: http://nafsa.org/resourcelibrary/default.aspx?id=8764J. Brockington (2006) “Effective Crisis Management” International Educator Jul/Aug. pp 47-52. http://www.nafsa.org/_/file/_/ed_abroad_effective_crisis.pdf C. Filson (2010) “Abroad By Design” http://www.nafsa.org/interactive/core/orders/product.aspx?catid=3&prodid=221

Resources“Handbook for Hosting” (2006) Academy for Educational Development http://cap.aed.org/HandbookFlier%5B1%5D.pdf (flyer) or http://studyabroad.isp.msu.edu/safety/presentations/EdAbroad1110excerpt.pdf (table of contents). Order book from AED Tel. (202) 884-8986