HendrixCollege Travel Policy

Countries on the US State Department Travel Warning List

HendrixCollege strongly encourages its students, faculty and staff who are contemplating travel abroad for educational or other purposes to plan well in advance and to take precautions to ensure a safe trip. All travelers should familiarize themselves with political, health, crime, and other safety-related conditions prevailing in any country and specific locations within the country(ies) to be visited. A review of these conditions should be performed by viewing web-based information provided by the U.S. Department of State ( as well as information provided by various other cognizant agencies and governments.

The following provisions apply to all Hendrix students who intend to study abroad or participate in any travel abroad sponsored or funded by Hendrix, or in connection with a trip abroad by a recognized College organization or institution affiliated with the College:

All Hendrix students have primary responsibility for their own safety when traveling internationally, whether or not their travel abroad is funded or sponsored by Hendrix or is accorded credit by Hendrix. Before departure, all students traveling abroad to participate in an internship, perform service, undertake research, study abroad, complete an Odyssey project, or participate in a recognized student organization or athletic trip abroad, as individuals or in groups, must provide the College with a “Release of Liability, Waiver of Rights, Assumption of Risks and Indemnity Agreement” in a form provided by the College, acknowledging their understanding of the risks of such travel, affirming that they have reviewed and understand the relevant safety-related materials, and stating that they are assuming the risks related to their international travel. Students under the age of 18 must obtain a parental/guardian signature on the form.

Countriesor areas within countries placed on the U.S. State Department Travel Warning List fall into one of two levels of severity. Hendrix will not grant or award credit, funding, support or otherwise sponsor any international academic or co-curricular project in any country, or area within a country, for which the U. S. State Department has issued the more severe warning.

These include locations for which the U.S. State Department has:

  1. issued a travel warning that orders departure of U.S. dependents and non-emergency personnel;
  1. recommended that U.S. citizens depart the country;
  1. advised U.S. citizens against all travel to the country; or
  1. recommended that U.S. citizens defer non-essential travel to the country.

The U.S. State Department also issues lesser warning levels or alerts for countries and areas within countries. This occurs when the U.S. State Department has:

  1. warned U.S. citizens of the risks or danger (or potential risks or danger) of travel to the country;
  1. urged U.S. citizens to evaluate carefully their security and safety before traveling to the country;
  1. warned or cautioned U.S. citizens to consider the risks of travel to the country;
  1. cautioned U.S. citizens to take prudent security measures;
  1. urged or warned U.S. citizens to weigh the necessity of travel to the country; or
  1. urged U.S. citizens to exercise extreme caution.

In order to travel to a “less severe” travel-warning country, a student must first follow normal program application procedures defined by the Office of International Programs; the Odyssey Office; the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation; the Miller Center for Vocation, Calling & Ethics; the Crain-Maling Center of Jewish Culture; or other recognized College organization. Second, the student must complete the “Release of Liability, Waiver of Rights, Assumption of Risks and Indemnity Agreement: Supplement for Travel to a Country on the US Department of State Travel Warning List” provided by the Office of International Programs. Because travel to such countries may require time for approval, students should submit this form and supporting documentation to the Office of International Programs no later than 15business days before any program deadlines, and at least 30 business days prior to departure.

A Hendrix committee—consisting of the General Counsel, the Associate Provost of Engaged Learning, and the Director of International Programs—will review the student liability supplement and the travel warning, and approve or deny the request for travel.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF RIGHTS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

Supplement for Travel to a Country

on the U.S. Department of State Travel Warning List

Basic Information

Participant (please print): ______

Program Name: ______

Travel Warning Listed Country: ______

Dates to be in Listed Country: ______

Checklist (please initial each)

_____I am at least 18 years old.

_____I have read and understand the U.S. Department of State Travel Warning for the country to which I will be traveling (attached to this document).

_____I acknowledge that I am solely responsible for any legal problems I encounter with any foreign nationals or government and that HendrixCollegehas no obligation to provide any assistance under such circumstances.

_____I understand that the U.S. Government may not be able to provide me any legal, medical or emergency assistance while I am in the country listed above.

_____I have attached an essay explaining: 1) my goals, objectives, and justifications for the proposed travel; 2) alternatives I considered to the proposed destination, and why these alternatives will not meet my goals and objectives; 3) my personal experience that demonstrates the level of maturity and judgment needed to travel to a potentially dangerous location; and 4) the steps I will take to be safe in the country listed above, acknowledging the specific threats in the attached travel warning.

_____ I have discussed the travel warning and travel to the country listed above with the Hendrix Director of International Programs, and have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Director.

Signature

I have, on my own volition, elected to travel to the country listed above. I understand that determination of the “less severe” grade and my travel are subject to approval by a Hendrix committee consisting of the Associate Vice President of Business, the Associate Provost of Engaged Learning, and the Director of International Programs. I also understand that I will be required to obtain additional approval from the office coordinating my specific program (e.g., Office of International Programs; the Odyssey Office; the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation; the MillerCenter for Vocation, Calling & Ethics; the Crain-Maling Center of Jewish Culture; or other recognized College organization).

I acknowledge that while academic and Odyssey credits are required by the College, there are ample opportunities to earn these credits in the U.S. or in countries not on the U.S. State Department Travel Warning List. My participation in this program involving travel to a country on the US Department of State Travel Warning List is elective and voluntary on my part and is not required by the College.

Student Signature:

______Date: ______

Parent/Guardian Signature (required, regardless of your age):

______Date: ______

**Please return the completed form to the Office of International Programs, SLTC 242.