SCU Administrative Support for Global Programs, Partnerships, and Travel
Santa Clara University has strong policies and procedures, as well as committee structures in place, that help us support global programs and initiatives consistently and in a manner in keeping with our values focused on social justice. These structures support situations related to political unrest, natural disasters, health outbreaks, and terrorist incidents, among others. SCU’s structures include:
University International Travel Policy
SCU has had an International Travel Policy in place since 2004, updated in 2013 and 2017. Our policy refers to guidance from the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in particular. Our policy prohibits travel to countries/areas with DOS Level 3 and Level 4 Travel Advisories. Countries/areas with Level 1 or Level 2 Travel Advisories are not restricted by our policy. Our policy enables us to respond consistently and in keeping with national best practices.
Global Travel Assistance
SCU maintains an international travel assistance provider to support all students, faculty, and staff abroad on university-sponsored international travel. The travel assistance provider was updated in 2024-25 to provide more comprehensive support for the University’s travelers in keeping with increased global activities commensurate with Impact 2030’s strategic priority of Reach on a Global Scale.
Crisis Abroad Response Team
The Crisis Abroad Response Team was created in 2012 to coordinate a response in the event of an international emergency that may impact participants in university-sponsored travel. In particular, this group helps ensure there is a consistent institution-wide response when there are multiple departments and areas of the university engaged in activities impacted by a situation abroad. The members determine when to cancel or suspend University-sponsored education abroad opportunities because of significant health, safety, or legal risks to participants, or significant threat to the educational objectives of the program. The Crisis Abroad Response Team may incorporate other consultants as needed.
Travel Policy Advisory Committee
The Travel Policy Advisory Committee was created in 2012 to review proposals for all university-sponsored travel with students or groups and recommends approval to the Associate Provost for International Programs. The Committee reviews over 100 proposals each year and spends significant efforts crafting the proposal, itself, to promote strong SCU programs abroad that address health and safety. The Committee also develops and promotes policies and procedures related to programs abroad.
Individual Faculty/Staff Travel Registry
SCU maintains a travel registry for all university-sponsored travel for individual faculty/staff travelers. When people register their travel, we can review to ensure that SCU’s insurance will cover travelers abroad and make adjustments, as needed. In addition, registered travelers receive reminders about monitoring health and safety conditions related to their travel and support from the University in a crisis.
Faculty/Staff Program Coordinator Role
In SCU’s decentralized structure for global programs, the Program Coordinator role allows any department across campus to initiate global programs and activities by designating a Program Coordinator. The Program Coordinator role includes departmental responsibilities for health and safety, financial, and other responsibilities to help travel succeed.