Safety and Security
We understand how important safety and security are in the discussion about study abroad. The sections below explain how we address these issues.
The Basics
For many parents, getting comfortable with the idea of your student going abroad is difficult. If the destination is a place that seems dangerous to you, whether that feeling is based on direct personal experience, media reports or friends’ reactions, it can be impossible. There are some points that we want to share with you that could help.
We do not send students to parts of the world that we believe are not safe. If there is a U.S. Department of State Travel Warning advising U.S. citizens not to go to a country or region, we suspend any programs we have there.
We do our best to prepare your students for the reality of the new environment. While no one can guarantee safety anywhere – not even in 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 that.
We discuss and discourage risky behaviors in the mandatory pre-departure orientation. Many of the situations that create safety issues abroad involve inappropriate use of alcohol, but not all of them. Students who act against our advice and indulge in risky behaviors could have serious problems. We address those behaviors frankly and in an open forum.
We encourage communication throughout the program and upon return.
Emergency Protocol
We have an emergency protocol that is followed if we are notified that a student on study abroad is in an emergency situation. The University of Oklahoma Police Department has instructions about 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.
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 son or daughter to be equal to the challenges of the arrival period.
Should I visit during the program?
We recommend that visiting be done at the end of the program. This timing doesn’t interfere with any language adjustment, 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 for the semester or year programs?
The University of Oklahoma’s primary model for study abroad is reciprocal exchange with partner universities. It is not a familiar model to students or parents. With the exception of a few summer programs, we do not send a group of students with a professor accompanying them. Instead, our students usually take classes with the host country’s students, function in the language of that country in all of their courses and, in some cases, even find their own places to live upon arrival. This is a true “immersion” experience and requires a different preparation. It is important for parents and guardians to understand our advising process and the thoroughness with which we prepare your sons and daughters to go abroad. Please note: Summer programs usually are not reciprocal exchange and include a variety of models.
How is my student advised after being accepted for study abroad?
Each program has a specific advisor designated to handle the country and university your student will attend. Soon after the official notice of acceptance, students may schedule appointments with their advisors. 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.
Is there an orientation session before departure?
Students participating in study abroad programs are required to attend a pre-departure orientation, usually held on a Saturday morning and early afternoon to allow parental participation. The date and time are always included in the official acceptance letter from our office. Students who have conflicts that cannot be resolved are required to schedule a time to watch the pre-departure video in our office. They may not check out the video and take it home. Parents of those students are still welcome to attend pre-departure orientation in person but need to notify our office first.
Topics covered during the morning part of the mandatory orientation include the following: passports, visas, culture shock, accessing money abroad, safety, enrollment at OU for study abroad hours, enrollment for the next semester at OU while on study abroad, financial aid, transcripts of study abroad course work, posting of grades upon return and travel arrangements. The afternoon is used for “site specific” breakout sessions in smaller rooms around campus. Volunteers who are study abroad alumni and exchange students from our partner universities sit and talk with student and parents in an informal setting, answering questions on everything from climate to classes to leisure time activities. The feedback we receive about these sessions is overwhelmingly positive.
Pre-departure orientation sessions for summer study abroad opportunities follow a similar format, and usually take place during a week-day evening in April.
Who will make sure that all of the necessary steps are done before my student leaves?
The study abroad advisors keep a checklist for each student to ensure that nothing is left undone prior to departure, but it is the responsibility of each student to get 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 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 are required to have insurance that covers them for medical emergencies while outside of the United States. However, the University of Oklahoma does not have a contract with one particular company for study abroad medical insurance for our participants.
Students must also be covered for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains in case of death. More information is given to the students during their pre-departure preparation including a list of travel insurance providers.
How do I contact my student’s advisor?
We expect our participants to communicate with their families about their programs. However, we understand that parents may want to contact us directly about their concerns and unanswered questions. When a parent calls our office, we make ourselves available whether your student is in the process of applying, has been accepted, is currently abroad or has returned. If your student’s advisor is unavailable, one of the other advisors will take the call. You should also feel free to email us.
What are the models for study abroad for summer programs?
There are quite a few different models of programs available for summer study abroad. All of them involve academic coursework. Summer study abroad is not a break from school nor is it a vacation. Summer study abroad is a great opportunity to begin or further your study of a language, and is often an ideal international academic experience for students with majors that require lots of sequential coursework. It must, however, be approached with the same seriousness as one would approach any academic endeavor during the standard academic calendar.
Education Abroad offers three basic types of summer programs for OU students: “Journey to” programs, English language instruction programs and language-based programs.
“Journey to” programs are designed exclusively for OU students who are accompanied and/or taught by an OU faculty member during their travels. These programs last between 4 and 5 weeks and are worth between 3 and 6 credits.
Programs with English-based course instruction are offered in a variety of English and non-English speaking countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ireland, Estonia and Korea. Based at several of our partner universities, these programs are open to students from all over the world. Length of program and transfer credit options vary.
Language study options abroad include Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.
For a complete listing of summer programs offered through Education Abroad, please see the Summer Programs webpage.
Students may also independently participate in summer programs through our affiliate providers or individual colleges. Education Abroad is not responsible for advising participants on summer programs administered by outside providers or faculty members from individual colleges at OU.
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The Basics
For many parents, getting comfortable with the idea of your student going abroad is difficult. If the destination is a place that seems dangerous to you, whether that feeling is based on direct personal experience, media reports or friends’ reactions, it can be impossible. There are some points that we want to share with you that could help.
We do not send students to parts of the world that we believe are not safe. If there is a U.S. Department of State Travel Warning advising U.S. citizens not to go to a country or region, we suspend any programs we have there.
We do our best to prepare your students for the reality of the new environment. While no one can guarantee safety anywhere – not even in 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 that.
We discuss and discourage risky behaviors in the mandatory pre-departure orientation. Many of the situations that create safety issues abroad involve inappropriate use of alcohol, but not all of them. Students who act against our advice and indulge in risky behaviors could have serious problems. We address those behaviors frankly and in an open forum.
We encourage communication throughout the program and upon return.
Emergency Protocol
We have an emergency protocol that is followed if we are notified that a student on study abroad is in an emergency situation. The University of Oklahoma Police Department has instructions about 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 son or daughter to be equal to the challenges of the arrival period.
Should I visit during the program?
We recommend that visiting be done at the end of the program. This timing doesn’t interfere with any language adjustment, 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 for the semester or year programs?
The University of Oklahoma’s primary model for study abroad is reciprocal exchange with partner universities. It is not a familiar model to students or parents. With the exception of a few summer programs, we do not send a group of students with a professor accompanying them. Instead, our students usually take classes with the host country’s students, function in the language of that country in all of their courses and, in some cases, even find their own places to live upon arrival. This is a true “immersion” experience and requires a different preparation. It is important for parents and guardians to understand our advising process and the thoroughness with which we prepare your sons and daughters to go abroad. Please note: Summer programs usually are not reciprocal exchange and include a variety of models.
How is my student advised after being accepted for study abroad?
Each program has a specific advisor designated to handle the country and university your student will attend. Soon after the official notice of acceptance, students may schedule appointments with their advisors. 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.
Is there an orientation session before departure?
Students participating in study abroad programs are required to attend a pre-departure orientation, usually held on a Saturday morning and early afternoon to allow parental participation. The date and time are always included in the official acceptance letter from our office. Students who have conflicts that cannot be resolved are required to schedule a time to watch the pre-departure video in our office. They may not check out the video and take it home. Parents of those students are still welcome to attend pre-departure orientation in person but need to notify our office first.
Topics covered during the morning part of the mandatory orientation include the following: passports, visas, culture shock, accessing money abroad, safety, enrollment at OU for study abroad hours, enrollment for the next semester at OU while on study abroad, financial aid, transcripts of study abroad course work, posting of grades upon return and travel arrangements. The afternoon is used for “site specific” breakout sessions in smaller rooms around campus. Volunteers who are study abroad alumni and exchange students from our partner universities sit and talk with student and parents in an informal setting, answering questions on everything from climate to classes to leisure time activities. The feedback we receive about these sessions is overwhelmingly positive.
Pre-departure orientation sessions for summer study abroad opportunities follow a similar format, and usually take place during a week-day evening in April.
Who will make sure that all of the necessary steps are done before my student leaves?
The study abroad advisors keep a checklist for each student to ensure that nothing is left undone prior to departure, but it is the responsibility of each student to get 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 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 are required to have insurance that covers them for medical emergencies while outside of the United States. However, the University of Oklahoma does not have a contract with one particular company for study abroad medical insurance for our participants.
Students must also be covered for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains in case of death. More information is given to the students during their pre-departure preparation including a list of travel insurance providers.
How do I contact my student’s advisor?
We expect our participants to communicate with their families about their programs. However, we understand that parents may want to contact us directly about their concerns and unanswered questions. When a parent calls our office, we make ourselves available whether your student is in the process of applying, has been accepted, is currently abroad or has returned. If your student’s advisor is unavailable, one of the other advisors will take the call. You should also feel free to email us.
What are the models for study abroad for summer programs?
There are quite a few different models of programs available for summer study abroad. All of them involve academic coursework. Summer study abroad is not a break from school nor is it a vacation. Summer study abroad is a great opportunity to begin or further your study of a language, and is often an ideal international academic experience for students with majors that require lots of sequential coursework. It must, however, be approached with the same seriousness as one would approach any academic endeavor during the standard academic calendar.
Education Abroad offers three basic types of summer programs for OU students: “Journey to” programs, English language instruction programs and language-based programs.
“Journey to” programs are designed exclusively for OU students who are accompanied and/or taught by an OU faculty member during their travels. These programs last between 4 and 5 weeks and are worth between 3 and 6 credits.
Programs with English-based course instruction are offered in a variety of English and non-English speaking countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ireland, Estonia and Korea. Based at several of our partner universities, these programs are open to students from all over the world. Length of program and transfer credit options vary.
Language study options abroad include Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish.
For a complete listing of summer programs offered through Education Abroad, please see the Summer Programs webpage.
Students may also independently participate in summer programs through our affiliate providers or individual colleges. Education Abroad is not responsible for advising participants on summer programs administered by outside providers or faculty members from individual colleges at OU.
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