Safety & Security

The Office of Education Abroad and the University of Oklahoma takes the health, safety and well-being of all students very seriously.  Below are ways in which we address concerns you may have with respect to study abroad.

The Basics

OU evaluates the safety and risk associated with all destinations open to study abroad.  By using instituitional best practices, industry norms and a variety of resources including the US Department of State and NAFSA, decisions are made as to if a program destination is open.  If the University of Oklahoma does not feel a destination is safe, undergraduate study abroad programming is suspended.

We do our best to prepare your students for the reality of the new environment. While no one can guarantee safety 100% of the time anywhere –  including Norman, we do our best to prepare your students for what they might encounter. If that is simply pickpockets and petty theft, then we alert them to these concerns.

Most problems overseas are connected to poor choices made by students while abroad, many of which involve the inappropriate use of alcohol.  We discuss and discourage risky behaviors in the mandatory pre-departure orientation.  Students who act against our advice and indulge in risky behaviors could have serious problems. Parents should know that OU students on official OU study abroad programs are considered fully OU students under the OU Student Code.  Should a student break a clause of the OU Student Code, many of the same disciplinary actions that could happen to them on the Norman campus could also happen to them overseas, including fines, fees, censures or even explusion should the circumstances be that serious. 

We address those behaviors frankly and in an open forum.  Conversations encouraging good judgement, with particular attention to alcohol consumption are also ways in which parents can be most helpful before their student studies abroad.

Emergency Protocol

The Office of Education Abroad has established an emergency protocol that is followed when we are notified that a student on study abroad is in an emergency situation. The University of Oklahoma Police Department has instructions regarding how to reach members of the Education Abroad staff after regular business hours. We are trained to respond in a professional manner to any developing situation in a country where we have students. All emergency contact information is easily accessible to us if we need to reach family members at any time of the day or night.

Please note that the OU Police Department should ONLY be contacted in the case of a true emergency.  Some examples of this would include a significant health crises, the need for legal intervention or "acts of god" such as earthquakes.

Should I accompany my student abroad?
The simple answer to this question is "no." This is a time for your student to step out and handle the new situation from the beginning. It can be humiliating to appear with a parent in tow, especially in areas where students are expected to be rather independent from an earlier age. As difficult as it may be, trust your student to be equal to the challenges of the arrival period.

Should I visit during the program?
Absolutely!  We recommend that visiting be done at the end of the program. This timing doesn’t interfere with any language, the transition to a new culture or the independence and self-reliance necessary on study abroad.

Should I worry if I don’t hear from my student every day/week?
Sometimes calling home frequently from study abroad is a more dangerous sign than not hearing anything. Frequent calls can mean that your student is still relying on you to solve problems that he or she should be working out alone or with the help of the people at the site. There usually is nothing you can do from a great distance. Emails seem to work better and are less “emotional” ways of maintaining contact.

What is the model for study abroad at OU?
The University of Oklahoma’s uses a variety of models.  Some models are reciprocal in nature and students attend a vetted partner institution.  Other models would mean that an OU professor might accompany the students while abroad.  Another model may mean that students are stuying abroad through an approved affiliate provider.  Each of these models is valid and works well for different students, with different financial, academic or personal needs.  Your student should be able to provide you with the details of the model on which they are participating.  

How is my student advised after being accepted for study abroad?
Each program has a specific advisor designated to handle the details of the program your student has chosen to participate on. Soon after the official notice of acceptance, students may schedule appointments with their advisors as needed. These appointments may be one-on-one or small group sessions involving all of the students headed to a particular destination. The initial appointment usually involves completing both OU and the host university’s required forms. Some forms can be completed and signed right away, but others need to be returned after the student has researched such things as medical insurance for study abroad, courses available at the host institution, etc. The students are informed of all relevant deadlines. Many students will see the study abroad advisor more than once before the pre-departure advising is completed. You son pr daughter is responsible for checking his/her official OU email on a regular basis during this time to receive important updates from our office.  The most important thing your student can do during the pre-departure process is to consistently check their OU email account and keep up with the deadlines listed within the OU Education Abroad software.

Is there an orientation session before departure?
Students participating in study abroad programs are required to complete an official pre-departure orietnation before going abroad.  Students participating in Education Abroad approved programs will be required to watch a series of pre-departure learning videos.  These videos will be deployed to the student's applicant homepage after he or she is endorsed to study abroad by our office.  Each student must demonstrate comprehension of this learning content material by successfuly completing an online assessment after watching all of the videos.  

Who will make sure that all of the necessary steps are done before my student leaves?
While the study abroad advisors keep a checklist for each student to ensure that nothing is left undone prior to departure, it is ultimately the responsibility of each student to have things completed and to follow up on forms and supporting documents. We do not expect or encourage parents to do these things.

Does OU arrange group flights for students going to the same destination?
No. We do not generally organize group flights for participants, nor do we require them to travel together. We do encourage students to travel in pairs or small groups if more than one student is headed to a particular destination.

Do you help students get passports?
We advise students without passports about how to get one and we ask students who already have them to check the expiration dates. We now require all applicants to have applied for or have a passport before applying for any program. We refer students to the U.S. Department of State web site for instructions and forms, but we do not keep such forms in our office.

What is a visa and why does my student need one?
A visa is a document from a foreign government that allows a non-citizen to enter a country for a specific purpose. Many of our destinations require student visas to be stamped on a blank passport page before the student may attend university in that country. We advise students about the visa application process and we keep ourselves informed about changes from semester to semester, but we do not send the visa applications from our office (except in rare circumstances). We expect the students themselves to complete the relevant forms and apply on time. Some student visa applications require the applicant to appear in person at a Consulate or Embassy to submit the application or pick it up. Summer programs rarely require a visa.

What type of medical Insurance is required for study abroad?
All University of Oklahoma students studying abroad on approved OU programs are required to carry insurance through the institutional provider FrontierMEDEX.  Students will automatically be charged the premium for this insurance through their OU bursar bill.  For more information on rates and coverages, please access the segment of our website on health and safety.

How do I contact my student’s advisor?
We strongly encourage communication through the adult student who has chosen to participate on a study abroad program.  While we recognize that many parents have a list of questions or concerns, it works best to funnel those through the student so that the student is informed and empowered in the process.  Of course, communication with the Office of Education Abroad is always open to parents in situations of emergencies.