Function
The International Travel Risk Review Committee (ITRRC) has two functions. First, the members are responsible for deciding whether to suspend an education abroad activity sponsored by UNH when a significant health hazard or safety concern is raised. The Committee may decide to suspend an education abroad individual or group activity before a program starts or while it is in progress.
Health or safety concerns may arise from a number of sources, including: U.S. Department of State, governmental or non-governmental health organizations, risk assessments from travel assistance providers, UNH faculty and staff with an expertise in the area, e.g. Senior Coordinator for Risk Management and Partnerships, on-site staff officials, international education organizations, or other indicators of potential or emergent health or safety threats.
The second function of the ITRRC is to review and approve petitions for UNH student travel to countries or areas that the U.S. Department of State rates as Level 3: Reconsider Travel or Level 4: Do Not Travel or to other potentially high risk destinations.
The ITRRC may require petitions for permission to travel to locations or participate in programs that pose a specific health, safety, or security concern as indicated by sources other than the U.S. Department of State. Examples of such sources may include but are not limited to: Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), non-U.S. government authorities (e.g., Australian or Canadian authorities), University of New Hampshire authorities, travel assistance providers, and international education organizations.
The ITRRC has university-wide jurisdiction and its decisions apply uniformly to all campuses.
Composition & Process
The International Travel Risk Review Committee (ITRRC) is comprised of:
- Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
- Senior Vice Provost for Student Life
- AVP Student Life, Executive Director of Health & Wellness
- Senior Coordinator for Risk Management and Partnerships
- Director of Education Abroad/Away USA
The ITRRC officials may delegate their responsibilities to others within their areas of authority. The committee may meet in person or electronically. Decisions are made by unanimous consent of the committee members.
Review Criteria
In deciding whether to suspend a UNH-sponsored education abroad activity, approve travel to a country or area with a U.S. Department of State risk rating of Level 3 or Level 4, or approve travel to a high risk destination, the ITRRC will consider the following factors:
- Educational purpose of the activity
- Academic level of activity is for undergraduate or graduate
- Education research (type of research), service, outreach, or professional development and the importance of the activity in relation to the students' UNH program
- Political and physical conditions in the destination country(ies)
- Level of risk to students' health and safety and ability to reasonably mitigate these risks
- Examples of mitigating circumstances have been citizenship or previously lived in destination country or joining family, professional/academic support and oversight provided such as university or INGO in region, accompanying faculty with region knowledge and professional contacts. Each petition is specific to student, location and activity.
- Travel conditions and the ability to evacuate students, if necessary
- Manageability of legal risk to the University
