Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University has assessed and approved University-related international student, faculty and staff travel using several information sources and advisories in past years. The most important of these sources are the U.S. Department of State Advisory Rating System and the Center for Disease Control’s Health Notices.

The U.S Department of State’s advisory system 1) provides travel risk assessments in all countries using four levels of advisories; 2) includes more specific warnings and ratings for regions or parts of countries as needed, and; 3) provides coding on the reasons for the advisory level.

The advisory levels (The U.S. State Department advisories can be located at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/about-our-new-products.html) are as follows:

* Level 1 - Exercise Normal Precautions: This is the lowest advisory level for safety and security risk. There is some risk in any international travel. Conditions in other countries may differ from those in the United States and may change at any time.
* Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution: Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.
* Level 3 - Reconsider Travel: Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.
* Level 4 - Do Not Travel: This is the highest advisory level due to greater likelihood of life-threatening risks. During an emergency, the U.S. government may have very limited ability to provide assistance. The Department of State advises that U.S. citizens not travel to the country or leave as soon as it is safe to do so. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.

The new travel advisory system also provides reasons for the level assigned, as follows:

* C - Crime: Widespread violent or organized crime is present in areas of the country. Local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes.
* T - Terrorism: Terrorist attacks have occurred and/or specific threats against civilians, groups, or other targets may exist.
* U - Civil Unrest: Political, economic, religious, and/or ethnic instability exists and may cause violence, major disruptions, and/or safety risks.
* H - Health: Health risks, including current disease outbreaks or a crisis that disrupts a country’s medical infrastructure, are present. The issuance of a Centers for Disease Control Travel Notice may be a factor.
* N - Natural Disaster: A natural disaster, or its aftermath, poses danger.
* E - Time-limited Event: A short-term event, such as an election, sporting event, or other incident that may pose a safety risk.
* O - Other: There are potential risks not covered by previous risk indicators. Read the country’s Travel Advisory for details.

Travel advisories information can be found at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/about-our-new-products.html.   

Travel advisories for all countries is located at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html

The State Department Travel Advisory categories will be used in the following ways at Florida A&M University:

Level One: International travel generally approved, except to regions that have a Level Three or Level Four within the country. Individuals, programs and groups need to identify key elements of their journey plan (ongoing information review and risk assessment, contacts, evacuation plan) and how they will avoid any Level Three or Level Four regions within a country. This information must be submitted with the Foreign Travel Request form at least 30 days in advance of the planned travel.

Level Two: International travel generally approved, except to regions that have a Level Three or Level Four within the country.  Individuals, programs and groups need to 1identify key elements of their journey plan (ongoing information review and risk assessment, contacts, evacuation plan) and how they will avoid any Level Three or Level Four regions within a country.  This information must be submitted with the Foreign Travel Request form at least 30 days in advance of the planned travel.

Level Three: International travel not approved. Individuals, programs, and groups may seek a waiver from the International Safety and Risk Management Committee. This will need to include key elements of a journey plan (ongoing information review and risk assessment, purpose of trip, local contacts, regions visited within the country, evacuation plan, etc.) A request for a waiver by International Safety and Risk Management Committee the must be submitted to The Office of International Education and Development along with the Foreign Travel Request form at least 60 days in advance travel.  The request should include a detailed itinerary and details of a plan to mitigate/minimize risks to protect the health, safety and security of travelers. Conditions in a country may quickly change and pose life-threatening risks; therefore, individuals and groups traveling to these countries assume sole liability and responsibility for such travel and must execute all appropriate waivers.
  
Level Four: No official University travel will be approved to these countries under any circumstances.
 
The Center for Disease Control’s Health Notices provide travelers and health care professionals with information that impact travelers’ health like disease outbreaks, and natural disasters in specific destinations.  There are three levels:

Watch Level 1: Practice Normal Precautions

Alert Level 2: Practice Enhanced Precautions

Warning Level 3: Avoid Nonessential Travel

The Center for Disease Control Health Notices will be used as follows for university sponsored travel at Florida A&M University:

Watch Level 1: International travel generally approved, except to regions that have a Warning Level Three within the country. Individuals, programs and groups need to identify key elements of their journey plan (ongoing information review and risk assessment, contacts, evacuation plan) and how they will avoid any Level Three regions within a country. This information must be submitted with the Foreign Travel Request form at least 30 days in advance of the planned travel.

Alert Level 2: International travel generally approved, except to regions that have a Warning Level Three within the country. Individuals, programs and groups need to identify key elements of their journey plan (ongoing information review and risk assessment, contacts, evacuation plan) and how they will avoid any Level Three regions within a country. This information must be submitted with the Foreign Travel Request form at least 30 days in advance of the planned travel.

Warning Level 3: No official University travel will be approved to these countries under any circumstances.