Collaboration Between Study Abroad Staff & Risk Managers

Have You Developed a Risk and Crisis Management Plan?

Gary Rhodes
Associate Dean, International Education & Senior International Officer,
College of Extended & International Education
Director, Center for Global Education
California State University at Dominguez Hills

Since the late 1980s, study abroad programs have made significant strides towards connecting with various offices across campus to establish a collaborative approach in the development and implementation of study abroad programs. In a previous article, I highlighted the challenges study abroad administrators face while maintaining compliance with the many requirements of U.S. universities as they send students all over the world.

When a study abroad administrator deals with issues like evaluating, limiting, and managing known risks; responding to crises around the world; and maintaining appropriate levels of insurance—from major medical and emergency assistance to liability and kidnapping and terrorism—it is critical that study abroad staff work closely with university risk managers.

The SAFETI Clearinghouse of the Center for Global Education at UCLA has a checklist of critical issues for study abroad staff and faculty to consider when developing and implementing programs: https://globaled.us/safeti/program_audit_checklist.asp. One could argue that all health and safety issues could use assistance from risk managers for effective support. However, issues that are part of the risk management job description include:

A. Insurance Coverage

B. Crisis and Risk Management

Like other areas needing support, while the risk manager has a clear understanding of the on-campus issues and challenges, many risk managers have never actually visited a study abroad program location. It is critical that they pass their on-campus knowledge to staff and faculty leading study abroad programs to implement policies and procedures that protect the institution.

In previous articles, I’ve also discussed the importance of reviewing the Responsible Good Practices for Health and Safety (https://www.nafsa.org/resourcelibrary/default.aspx?id=16949) and the Forum on Education Abroad Standards of Good Practice areas focused on health and safety (https://forumea.org/standards.cfm). On June 20, 2013, I attended the Forum on Education Abroad Standards of Good Practice Institute: Beyond the Basics of Health, Safety, Security and Risk Management. Many of the issues that came up highlighted the importance of cross-campus collaboration to effectively address safety concerns.

Study abroad staff and risk managers as well as others on the campus health and safety support and crisis management team should work to enhance good practices at their campus with everyone connected to the international programs sponsored by their college or university. However, you may find that it would be helpful to get additional feedback from study abroad staff and faculty from other universities to get samples of best practices to inform your own campus. We have collected some samples of best practices through the SAFETI Clearinghouse. NAFSA and URMIA also have samples of good practices on their websites. The Forum on Education Abroad includes a Standards Toolbox for this same purpose.

However, a new opportunity is available in the fall that might help jump-start this effort. While NAFSA and the Forum on Education Abroad may be the most important higher education organizations for study abroad staff, for risk managers, the key association is the University Risk Management and Insurance Association (URMIA). The next NAFSA national conference takes place in May 2014 in San Diego, California. Through collaboration between NAFSA and URMIA, there will be a 1½ day pre-conference workshop May 26-27 that is intended to bring study abroad administrators and risk managers from colleges and universities from across the U.S. to work together to enhance policies and procedures and “Optimize Outcomes”.

One important outcome that I expect from the workshop will be support for enhanced policies and procedures for the institutions that send staff to participate. However, there is potential for the workshop to also provide additional guidance for both fields. Discussions will focus on how more can be done to develop study abroad programs that enhance risk management support. I expect that risk managers will also be provided with insights about innovations in study abroad program development and implementation that have the potential to impact risk management practices on campuses in the U.S. as well.