Program Parameters
All employee-led student domestic group travel programs (including but not limited to study away programs - experiences part of a credit-bearing course/program, co-curricular experiences, off-campus visits - shall be reviewed and modified to comply with these requirements. Educational objectives should be reviewed. Non-essential travel should be minimized. Itineraries for all programs must be reviewed and modified to accommodate advisories and local conditions as outlined by applicable authorities listed below.
- Center for Disease Control
- Destination State/Coumty/City Guidelines
All programs must continue to have contingency plans in case of any disruptions. Where feasible, a plan for academic continuity should be in place in case the in-person portion of the program is canceled.
Approval process
All KSU sponsored and active employee-led domestic student group travel programs will be reviewed and approved on a semester basis. Approval is based on each individual program assessment of local access to resources (e.g. health care, testing), adequate on-site support and guidelines set forth by the agencies listed within this document.
Employees proposing employee-led programs will continue to follow the guidelines and continue to work within their unit for the development of their program. In addition to requirements within the unit, employees will be required to submit their assessment and supporting documentation of their program modifications to an ad-hoc committee for approval in the division that is housing the program (e.g., academic and co-curricular programs – Office of the Provost); student organizations/club sports – Division of Student Affairs).
Travel Requirements
Students participating in KSU sponsored programs must follow all TSA guidelines for travel: https://www.tsa.gov/coronavirus. While away, students must follow local travel authorities’ guidelines for travel. Travel that is not part of a travel request is not recommended.
Students are responsible for adhering to all entry and exit requirements of their home, host and transit states including any financial obligations to address personal needs.
Housing requirements
Housing policies and contractual partners shall be reviewed and modified to comply with safety protocols. When possible, occupancies should be reduced to no more than 2 students per room and common areas should accommodate physical distancing requirements. All entrances to bedrooms must be able to be secured from inside the room to prevent entry. AirBnB, VRBO and other similar hosted options are not permitted at this time.
Pre-Departure Requirements
Requirements must be covered in the pre-departure orientation. All students participating in a KSU sponsored study away program must attend a pre-departure orientation delivered by the unit organizing the study away program.
This pre-departure orientation should include information on transit, protocols and recommendations (e.g. health requirements), itineraries, risk mitigation policies for programs, student conduct expectations, local resources, and emergency contacts. The pre-departure orientation will be modified to be state/city specific and provide specific information relevant to their host location. The unit organizing the group travel - in conjunction with the DeWeese Health Center -will continue to monitor guidance in the host state/county/city and make students aware of relevant program modifications when necessary.
Prior to departure, students will be notified of relevant local agencies to be used to best monitor health and safety protocol while traveling. Agencies may include:
- Center for Disease Control
- Local Destination Health Department
- State Destination Health Department