International Travel Policy

Any international travel that is tied to academic credit, or is accompanied by a UNC Greensboro faculty/staff member (“program director”), or uses any University financial resources (including, but not limited to, study abroad programs, undergraduate, graduate, faculty and staff research, scholarship and creative activity, service learning, and independent study courses).

Destination risk will be evaluated by consulting a location’s U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory Level, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travel Health Notice Level, and other risk rating information as may be applicable, including, but not limited to, Drum-Cussac Country Security Profiles to determine a Regional Risk Rating. The International Programs Center will maintain and update a rubric defining current Regional Risk Ratings and maintain a list of Regional Risk Ratings by destination. Locations will be designated with the following Regional Risk Ratings: Lower Risk Locations, Moderate Risk Locations, or High Risk Locations.

Approved Travel Locations are regions designated as Lower Risk Locations. Moderate Risk Locations are also Approved Travel Locations as long as the travel does not involve students. This travel requires no petition to the University-Affiliated International Travel Review Committee, however travelers are responsible for complying with the stipulations of the UNC Greensboro International Travel Checklist.

Unapproved Travel Locations are all High Risk Locations. Moderate Risk Locations are also Unapproved Travel Locations when the travel involves students. Travel in these instances requires approval of a petition to the University-Affiliated International Travel Review Committee. If a petition is approved, travelers are also responsible for complying with the stipulations of the UNC Greensboro International Travel Checklist.

The Provost provides University-wide leadership and decision-making on University-affiliated international travel with the support of the University-Affiliated International Travel Review Committee and the International Programs Center.

Appointed by the Provost, the Committee will meet as needed to review petitions for travel to Unapproved Travel Locations as described in this policy and provide recommendations to the Provost. The Committee is chaired by the Associate Provost for International Programs. Permanent members include one representative each from Undergraduate Studies, the Office of Research and Engagement, and the Office of Institutional Risk Management. The Dean of each college or school and the Dean of the Graduate School will each recommend one member to the Committee to serve for a period of 3 years. In addition, the Associate Provost for International Programs is authorized to exercise the discretion to appoint additional members to the Committee to provide additional expertise, including but not limited to individuals from the International Programs Center and experts on a specific location(s).

The International Programs Center (“IPC”) is responsible for monitoring University-affiliated student travel, both credit-bearing and non-credit-bearing. IPC regularly monitors country data to identify health and safety risks. IPC is responsible for updating the Regional Risk Ratings semi-annually and as major changes take place.

The Office of Research Integrity (“ORI”) is responsible for monitoring University-affiliated faculty/staff travel when conducted for research, scholarship and creative activities. ORI monitors the Commerce Control List of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as well as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). ORI is responsible for updating EAR, OFAC, and ITAR information when major changes take place or when export control policy and/or processes change acutely.

Travel to regions designated as Lower Risk Locations are Approved Travel Locations. Travel to regions designated as Moderate Risk Locations are also approved as long as the travel does not involve students. A petition is not required for Approved Travel Locations. Travelers are responsible for complying with the stipulations of the UNC Greensboro International Travel Checklist.

Unapproved Travel Locations are all High Risk Locations. Moderate Risk Locations are also Unapproved Travel Locations when the travel involves students. A petition is required for approval to travel to Unapproved Travel Locations. Factors contributing to the designation of Unapproved Travel Locations include:

• Regions covered by a current level 4 U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory or;
• Countries that have a Drum-Cussac Security Profile overall country risk rating of “High” or “Extreme”. Drum-Cussac Security Profiles are available through GeoBlue, the UNC System international insurance provider or;
• Regions covered by a CDC warning to “Avoid Nonessential Travel”.

For travelers seeking an exception from this policy, see section 5.4 Petitioning for an Exception.

Additionally, University-affiliated faculty/staff international travel for the purposes of applied (non-fundamental) research, scholarship and/or creative activities will not be approved to:

• Engage with entities on the OFAC fully sanctioned lists or;
• Travel to countries with partial embargoes without being coordinated with the ORI to determine if there are any licensing requirements from the OFAC.