Safety & Security: Suggested Best Practices During a Political Uprising

From time to time, a political uprising—peaceful or otherwise—will occur in a country where U.S. students are engaging in education abroad. The Education Abroad Health and Safety Subcommittee has suggested some guidelines to follow while the political uprising is in place:

1. Make sure you know that your students/staff/faculty are safe. Contact all students by phone or SMS or alternative means of communication. Use the emergency telephone tree that you have set up.
2. If appropriate, advise students/faculty/staff to stay home until the situation on the ground is clarified. When classes resume, students should keep a low profile, avoid public gatherings and demonstrations, and keep away from key government buildings.
3. Advise students/faculty/staff to monitor the media to keep up-to-date with the situation and follow any instructions issued by the local authorities.
4. Communicate with your students to reassure them. For most U.S. students, a political uprising is an extraordinary event that is beyond their experience.
5. Strongly suggest to students that traveling within areas of unrest, going near "hot spots" such as political rallies, areas with tanks, or crowds, etc. are not recommended and would put their safety at risk.
6. Corroborate all information that you receive before you share it with others.
7. Consult with Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) analysts, other expert analysts, and onsite staff and/or partner institutions abroad.
8. Follow communication protocols when speaking with the media.
9. Gather as much factual information as possible so you are prepared when talking to parents.
10. Monitor the situation carefully.

Education Abroad professionals may also want to consult with a member of the Education Abroad Health and Safety Subcommittee (33kb ), as they will continue to monitor all sources and update information as possible.

September 2006