Marriage, Family and Human Development

FHSS Travel and Travel Exceptions

September 29, 2003

To: All Faculty and Staff

From: Rulon Pope, Associate Dean

RE: Travel and Travel Exceptions

We have recently been given some clarification of travel approval procedures if a Arequest for exception" to University policy is sought. As noted in the attached memo of September 8, 2003 by Vice President Sandra Rogers, "no university employee or student should be traveling to a country on the list." The State Department's list of "do not travel countries" is available on the travel services web site. If the travel is deemed essential and it seems prudent to seek an exception to this policy, the only one that can grant that exception is Vice President Rogers. This exception is granted only after great deliberation and research. If such an exception is sought, I would ask that all Chairs and Directors have the faculty or staff person prepare an extensive justification for the travel answering each of the points in the Vice President==s memo of September 8^th. This should include a discussion of your research on the security issues and risks. After such a memo is completed, it should be forwarded to your chair/director for his or her assessment of the merits of the travel. The proposal, plus the appropriate assessment from the chair/director should then be forwarded to me. If there is a consensus that the case has merit, the exception will be requested of Vice President Rogers. These cases should be extremely rare and the proposal for exception should be completed well in advance of the travel in order that each can fulfill their responsibility. Only after notification of approval should one commence filling out the travel application and booking airfare.

As to domestic and international travel in general, I would again remind each one of us of the wishes of the University and indeed the Board with regard to travel. This is best understood in the direction by Sandra Rogers to administrators AWe 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 "essentiality" and "prudence" under the following guidelines. The guidelines are then enunciated in the afore mentioned memo.

Thank you for your support.