The safety of Tulane students is an integral part of the mission of the Freeman Study Abroad & Exchange office. Tulane takes great care to select and continuously monitor the programs in our portfolio, using such resources as the U.S. State Department, Crisis24, various news outlets and the Tulane Office of Insurance and Risk Management.
Information on health and safety is provided to students via multiple pathways, such as documents embedded in their application portal, presentations given during the mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation, information shared during advising sessions, and more. Students must take responsibility for their safety while abroad. They are expected to take advantage of the resources provided to them by Tulane and the host institution.
In general, students are advised to pay close attention to unfamiliar surroundings, keep others informed of their plans and schedules, and to avoid risky behavior that may impair their awareness and ability to protect themselves. Just as students have access to a support system while in New Orleans, they will have access to no-site support staff in their host country who can assist them if necessary.
In the Event of a Potential Unstable or an Extreme Weather Event in a Study Abroad Location
The Office of Study Abroad works closely with other offices on campus and with host program staff abroad to monitor on-site conditions and act quickly in the event of an emergency abroad. Every student is required to register with Crisis 24, an emergency response service which provides medical, personal, travel and security advice and assistance. In the case of an emergency, Crisis24 may be contracted to provide emergency medical care or evacuation and security assistance, which includes evacuation in the event that it is determined that a student's security is threatened by any political instability or civil unrest.
International Health Insurance
***Effective January 1, 2025***
All Tulane students participating in Tulane-related travel outside the United States will be automatically enrolled in a new international health insurance policy provided by CHUBB. All medical and safety support and services while abroad will now be managed through Crisis24. Please visit the Tulane Global website for more information.
If a student needs medical or urgent support while traveling outside of the United States, they should contact Crisis24 via the app, telephone, or email.
Preparing to Study Abroad with a Medical Condition
Most medical conditions are completely manageable while abroad and simply require a bit of preparation and planning so that they do not interfere with the student’s experience. If a student has a pre-existing medical condition, they should speak with their physician in order to develop a plan for their time abroad. Here is a list of questions to discuss with a health care provider prior to studying abroad:
- How do you import prescription medication into the host country or identify the most suitable alternative that is available in the host country?
- Can the physician consult with you over the phone or email if necessary?
- Should you find a local physician to help monitor the condition regularly while abroad?
- Are there local issues that may exacerbate the condition? Excessive sun? Allergens? Air pollution?
- Does the potential host city have the resources and infrastructure so that you may find the necessary care while there?
Students who will need to see a physician abroad in order to obtain medication or treat an ongoing condition should consult with their program provider or host university prior to departure to identify a suitable local healthcare provider.
Students with Goldman Center accommodations should send a copy of their official accommodations letter to the host university immediately upon acceptance or during the initial application process. Although not guaranteed, it is common for basic academic accommodations to be implemented on site as long as they are reported to the host university prior to departure. Even if a student does not plan to use their accommodations while abroad, it is a good idea to send in the letter to the host institution early in the application process just in case. If a student waits until after they are already on-site to ask for approved accommodations to be implemented, it may no longer be possible depending on the host institution. If a student has concerns related to accommodations abroad, they can always make an appointment with a Freeman Abroad advisor.
Our partner institutions have procedures in place to ensure that students have access to adequate healthcare, whether their medical condition is new or old. Furthermore, Crisis24 can assist in finding local medical professionals (English-speaking, if necessary) and coordinating with the Tulane health insurance company (CHUBB). Freeman Abroad recommends that students stay informed about health conditions and risks in their host country while taking necessary preventative measures to stay healthy.
We realize that this semester or year may be a particularly challenging one as students navigate cultural shock, differences in academic expectations, or the stress of an internship or research position abroad. While students do typically have access to such resources on site through their host university, keep in mind these resources may differ from what one may encounter in the U.S. depending on the program as well as the host country’s culture respective to mental health. Before departure, students should reach out to their host institution contact directly to ask about counseling and other services which may be available on-site.
If a student is experiencing a mental health emergency or urgent need, their first line of defense after tapping into the local resources is the Crisis24 app, telephone number, or email.
