In light of terrorist attacks in Paris and a suicide bombing in Istanbul, Syracuse University Abroad is constantly reviewing and refining security protocol as it aims to remain vigilant over student safety and security.

“Student safety is never far from our minds,” said Margaret Himley, associate provost for international education and engagement at SU Abroad. “This is the study program that was hit by terrorism 27 years ago.”

SU Abroad members monitor world events from sources such as the U.S. State Department, International SOS — a medical and travel assistance company — and the media, according to the SU Abroad website. Based on the information gathered, Himley said SU Abroad assesses potential risks for students and makes decisions on how to proceed with the program.

 

On Jan. 12, 10 tourists were killed in an apparent suicide bombing in Istanbul’s central historic district, a popular tourist destination.

Himley said SU Abroad has made modifications in response to the suicide bombing, which will make students less likely to spend as much time in the historic district during signature seminar and more likely to take a private bus than the public transportation.

“These would be on-the-ground, carefully thought out decisions that center directors and the staff — in conversation with a risk management team and people here — would make,” Himley said.

But updates to SU’s international travel policies have been ongoing since before the terrorist attacks in Paris and Istanbul.

Michael Wasylenko, senior associate dean and professor of economics, sent an email on Jan. 7 to faculty and staff in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs announcing that SU had developed a set of protocols relating to health insurance coverage while abroad and evacuation insurance “in the event of an emergency.”

The announcement was made after several SU faculty and staff members contributed to a list of practices and protocols for international travel. SU’s associate director of risk and insurance, Michaele DeHart, sent an email on Nov. 11, 2015, to these faculty and staff members addressing a meeting held at the end of August on international travel risks. In the email, DeHart asked recipients to send her any comments on the group’s drafted practices and protocols by Dec. 7.

Among the protocols in SU Abroad’s International Travel Guidance Document for Faculty and Staff is a notice that the Dean’s Office will advise the vice chancellor and provost “if there is a U.S. Department of State travel warning to avoid non-essential travel or Center for Disease Control (CDC) Level 3 travel warning to avoid non-essential travel for the student’s destination.” The vice chancellor and provost would then be in charge of deeming approval for the trip.

While discouraging independent travel was an “immediate response” to the Paris attacks, Himley said SU Abroad no longer discourages students from traveling independently.

Jennifer Horvath, manager of marketing and communications for SU Abroad, said there are at least two full-time staff members in Syracuse and in each center abroad who are available to respond to emergencies 24/7.

Following the suicide bombing in Istanbul, SU Abroad did not change independent travel policy because the State Department and International SOS felt it was an isolated incident, Horvath said.

Students are still required to register travel plans with respective SU centers and with the International SOS MyTrips Personal Travel Locator — a measure implemented before the attacks in Paris, Himley said.

Horvath said SU Abroad was able to confirm the whereabouts of students quickly following the terrorist attacks, and the center in Istanbul got in contact with all students within an hour of the suicide bombing because of the existing protocols.

Center directors, a risk management team and Himley are refining a mass emergency protocol manual, which may include deploying Orange Alert abroad, she said.

Himley said students in study abroad programs are educated about safety and know to avoid public demonstrations. Students also learn about the geopolitical framework of a country so they are not unnecessarily fearful of any situations there.

“We have center directors who talk openly and honestly about where things are and how people should think, which is good advice for getting around the world for anybody,” Himley said.

When asked whether SU Abroad is planning to cut its program short at the moment, Himley said SU Abroad has no plans to do so. Students too are continuing to participate in SU Abroad, as Himley said there was a 10.5 percent increase in SU students studying abroad from the spring 2015 semester to the spring 2016 semester.

 

Yet, Himley added, the SU Abroad program has the capability and history of shortening study abroad programs, such as during the spring 2013 semester, when a protest at Gezi Park in Istanbul closed Bahçeşehir University — where the SU Abroad Istanbul program is embedded.

“There are always risks,” Himley said. “We can’t ever say that everybody will be totally safe, but we don’t think that there is an imminent danger.”

Mehrzad Boroujerdi, professor and chair of the political science department at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, will be taking a group of students to Istanbul in June for a one-month study abroad program. He said there has not been a major logistical change made to the travel plan but added that he will be monitoring the situation on the ground with the SU center in Istanbul, a risk management team and International SOS.

Himley said potential SU Abroad participants have to make individual risk assessments and ultimately decide whether to pursue study abroad.

“I think many students see this as an opportunity to study abroad. Not to put themselves into danger but understand the world better,” Himley said.

Published on January 24, 2016 at 11:50 pm

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