UW Offers Advice on International Travel

The University of Wyoming advises students, faculty and staff traveling abroad this summer that the U.S. Department of State issued a security message for U.S. citizens May 24 for the United Kingdom. This is in addition to a European travel alert issued May 1.

These travel alerts do not ban or curtail travel to Europe or the U.K., but ask Americans to be aware of their surroundings and the situations they may encounter, and to be cautious and vigilant of potential risks to their safety with incidents of terrorism on the rise.

According to the Department of State Overseas Security Advisory Council, U.S. travelers abroad should:

-- Avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations where possible.

-- Exercise caution and be observant of your surroundings, especially at known extremist targets such as tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, government facilities and at high-profile events (for example, sporting events or concerts), hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, parks, public areas and other locales where U.S. citizens gather in large numbers.

-- Stay current on media coverage of local events, and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

-- Maintain a low profile while overseas.

-- If you are traveling in groups, make sure group members keep track of one another’s schedules when away from class, group outings or lodging.

-- Have key telephone numbers available, in case there is a need for support or assistance. This includes fellow group members’ phone numbers, faculty leaders’ phone numbers if you are on a UW course, and the phone number of the U.S. embassy or consulate in your destination.

-- Maintain awareness of UW’s emergency communication protocols.

-- Sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, which will allow the Department of State to better assist you in case of an emergency.

-- Be sure to review the U.S. Department of State’s protocol during a crisis for more information.

UW’s official form of communication for faculty, students and staff is via email, so check your UW email account regularly. UW will contact all faculty traveling on UW business and all students on UW study-abroad programs via email and phone (where possible) in the event of an emergency.

Students are asked to provide emergency in-country contact numbers (to reach you while abroad) and emergency contacts in the U.S. (in case we can’t reach you abroad) to the International Programs Office, 766-3678 or 766-6681, before departure. Faculty members not traveling with students should provide their contact details in the event of an emergency on their travel notification form or directly to Laura Betzold, chief risk officer, at 766-6787 or lpeter18@uwyo.edu.