Marriage, Family and Human Development

MEMO

September 8, 2003

TO: Deans/Directors/Chairs/Administrators

FROM: Sandra Rogers

RE: Domestic and International Non-Student Travel

As we begin a new school year we would like to reaffirm university policy for domestic and international travel. We continue to ask administrators, deans, directors, and chairs to evaluate and make wise decisions related to college, department, and unit travel using the principles of Aessentiality@ and Aprudence@ and under the following guidelines:

Is the travel to a country on the U.S. State Department ATravel Warning@ list? No university employee or student should be traveling to countries on that list. The list changes from time to time and can be accessed at travel.state.gov/warnings_list.html.
Requests for exceptions should come to the International Vice President for review.
Is this critical unit, department, or college business?
Could the activity be done via telephone or other electronic communication?
Is ground transportation a reasonable alternative?
Do faculty or employees have commitments for presentations, contracts, service as presiding officers of organizations, or other obligations? Is it critical to faculty rank and status decisions?
If the work is essential, could it be done by fewer people (if a number of individuals are planning the same trip)?

The staff in the International Study Programs (ISP) Office of the David M. Kennedy Center continue to consult regularly with security, health, and safety contacts regarding travel. They can provide information on security precautions to those who must travel internationally on essential business.