Health and Safety Policies

The Alliance for Global Education is committed to maintaining the highest standards in health and safety for our students.   Through staff training, participation in workshops on best practices within the field, continuous monitoring and ongoing assessment, the Alliance ensures that our programs provide the highest quality of care, oversight, and due diligence in our operations both in the U.S. and abroad. 

Please see pp. 9-12 in the Alliance Policy Handbook for additional information on Alliance health and safety policies. 

All Eyes on H1N1

We are closely monitoring the situation in Pune and at our three sites in China, and are in continuing contact with our medical insurance provider, HTH Worldwide, to discuss planning, prevention, and treatment should any of our students be affected while abroad. We are also closely monitoring local and international news sources and postings from OSAC and the CDC, and are receiving daily first-person accounts from our resident staff.

We are taking preventative measures to minimize student exposure to crowds and other high-risk situations, and are recommending that our students take individual preventative measures.

Health and Safety Orientation

In pre-departure materials and communications, students are referred to Center for Disease Control (CDC) and U.S. State Department resources for health and safety abroad.   Students are also asked to consult with their personal physicians during the pre-departure process to determine their mental and physical fitness for study abroad and to identify any special accommodations that might be required.  For India participants, a medical form completed by a physician is a required component of the post-acceptance preparation process.

Upon arrival in-country, all students participate in a comprehensive health and safety orientation conducted by Alliance resident staff.  This orientation provides students with an overview of health and safety issues specific to their new context, as well as concrete practices for staying safe and healthy in their new environment during their term abroad. 

Staff Training

Our staff undergoes thorough health and safety training upon hire, and participate in ongoing training and workshops both within the Arcadia and IFSA-Butler contexts as well as within the context of professional international education meetings and activities.  Staff are also continually updated on current health and safety resources, and are active participants in the development and maintenance of communication and emergency response protocols.

Regional and International Emergencies

Staff at the Alliance’s Washington, D.C. headquarters monitor daily U.S. State Department security announcements and other security-related news outlets.  In-country resident directors also keep headquarters fully briefed on local security conditions and concerns.  The Alliance maintains a comprehensive contingency plan for regional and international emergencies in keeping with best practices in the field.

All Alliance students are registered with the U.S. Embassy upon arrival in-country, and our Shanghai resident director is a U.S. Consulate Warden.  All resident directors maintain contact information both for the U.S. Embassy and for regional consulates. 

Medical or Criminal Emergencies

All Alliance staff are experienced in emergency response and are on call 24-7 for student emergencies.

Alliance resident staff have identified the best local hospitals and physicians for student medical treatment, and maintain good relations with local authorities.  An established Alliance communication protocol exists for handling student medical or criminal emergencies, and for contacting parents and home institutions where appropriate.

Medical evacuation insurance is provided for all students through HTH Worldwide, a recognized and well-respected provider of international travel insurance within the field of study abroad.

Transportation Safety

The Alliance supports the work of the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) and employs its Transportation Safety Checklists and Road Safety Tool Box for Study Abroad in staff training, student orientations, travel planning, and vetting of transportation providers.

Please visit ASIRT’s website at www.asirt.org for more information about this worthy organization and its road safety initiatives in the U.S. and around the world.

Liability Coverage

The Alliance maintains adequate liability insurance for its program facilities in the U.S. and overseas, and conducts regular risk-management reviews.