The University of Houston encourages participation in international activities and promotes the development of opportunities for international study and research as part of its academic mission. While all travel abroad has some risks, some parts of the world pose heightened risks to the health and safety of travelers.

To safeguard the well-being of students, faculty, and staff going abroad, the Elevated Risk Destinations Policy provides a framework for review and approval of elevated risk destinations. Students, faculty and staff are not permitted to travel to elevated risk locations unless an exception is granted by the Global Risk and Safety Committee and the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. This policy does not apply to personal or other travel that is unaffiliated with the University of Houston. 

No UH student shall be required to participate in university sponsored, organized or affiliated travel to an elevated risk destination. The student must consider the risks, and, weighing those risks against the value of the educational opportunity to the student, make their own determination about whether to continue pursuing the planned international travel research, study, or other engagement opportunity. The student should also take into consideration the possibility that the countries not designated as elevated risk may be updated to be part of the list without warning. The student should also consider the possibility that, if he or she encounters difficulties abroad, UH and even the U.S. Department of State may be unable to assist.  

Elevated risk destinations are determined based on four criteria for the country or region of a country. Destinations are cataloged and updated monthly by the Assistant Director of Learning Abroad. The determining criteria are: 

• S. Department of State Travel Warning Level 3 or 4 
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travel Warning Level 3 or 4 
• On Call International Risk Assessment Levels 4 and 5
• UH travel to a country/region that has been designated as restricted by the Office of the Provost and/or Office of the Chancellor & President

To review if your travel destination is to an Elevated Risk Destination, please contact the Assistant Director of Learning Abroad, Andie Beer.

To read the full Elevated Risk Destination policy, view the full Student International Travel Policy, available soon. For questions, email uhglobal@uh.edu.