Study Away Health and Safety
Stay informed on health and safety issues while studying away. Learn about Allegheny College’s emergency insurance, safety protocols, pre-departure sessions, and medical support.
Your Health and Safety While Studying Away
There’s no greater concern than Allegheny students’ health and safety when they study away. The Global Education staff stay informed on global issues from a variety of sources. We review Center for Disease Control Travel Health Notices, State Department Travel Advisories, we receive daily security alerts from a number of independent sources, and we maintain regular contact with our partner universities and provider staff on-the-ground in our study away locations.
We are members of OSAC, the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). OSAC brings together the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Regional Security Officers, and U.S. private-sector organizations operating abroad to keep us connected and informed. We perform regular risk-assessment reviews of every program we administer and have processes in place to help ensure our students can stay safe and well when they study away. All students attend mandatory pre-departure orientation sessions which include an overview of health and safety precautions.
Safety Concerns
What to Do in an Emergency
First, seek safety. Then, notify your on-site program contact and Allegheny College.
Each emergency is different and requires a different response.
For Routine Emergencies
Your on-site program contact in your Resident Staff or International Student Support office should be your first point of contact. Then contact the Global Education office at Allegheny if you need additional support or resources. Routine emergencies could include minor sickness or injury (cold, flu, food poisoning, sprain, etc.), lost passport, or minor theft (wallet/purse).
- If you need assistance outside of business hours, contact Allegheny College’s Office of Public Safety at +1 (814) 332-3357
- For advice on medical needs, counselors, or doctor referrals in country, contact Allegheny’s Medical Assistance Services.
For Major Emergencies
A major emergency requires more extensive response to address the situation.
- Seek safety and get immediate help. Go to a safe location. Use the local equivalent of 911 to get immediate emergency assistance. Remember to heed advice from on-site staff on the best manner to contact police and emergency services in your host country.
- Notify your on-site contact. Contact local program staff to let them know about the emergency and/or your safety status. They can provide further assistance/directions.
- Contact your insurance provider if the emergency is medical in nature or you need security advice. AXA, Allegheny’s Travel Assistance Program, can be reached 24-hours a day at +1 855-327-1414.
- Contact Allegheny Office of Public Safety at +1 (814) 332-3357. They will ensure the appropriate offices on campus are involved to assist you.
- Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or your government if addition assistance is needed. Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies abroad are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Contact information for U.S. Embassies and
- Consulates appears on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at travel.state.gov. Also note that the Office of Overseas Citizen Services in the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs may be reached at +1 202-501-4444. This Office can put you in touch with the necessary local consular personnel for assistance.
- Remember to program all emergency numbers into your local cell phone.
Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities. Under Title IX, discrimination on the basis of sex can include sexual harassment or sexual violence, such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, and sexual coercion. Staff of the Global Education office and Global Learning Seminar Faculty leaders are considered non-confidential resources for purposes of Title IX. That means if an Allegheny College student discloses an experience of stalking, sexual harassment, sexual assault, or rape to any study away program faculty, staff member, or advisor, that staff member or advisor is required to make a report of the assault to the Title IX Coordinator at Allegheny College. The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the College’s compliance with Title IX and will follow-up with the student regarding what was reported to provide resources to the student and to discuss additional options the student has for reporting the crime.
Contact Allegheny College’s Title IX Coordinator
Clery Act
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, codified in 1990 as the Federal Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act, is part of the Higher Education Act of 1965. The Clery Act is a federal law that requires colleges and universities to disclose certain timely and annual information about crime that takes place on and around their campuses as well as to publish security policies. All public and private post-secondary educational institutions participating in federal student aid programs are subject to this law. If any type of crime occurs to a student or faculty member during a study away program, it must be reported to the Assistant Dean for Global Education so they may include the crime in the Clery Act Reporting statistics.
More Global Education Resources
Get all the details on the application process, including dates, programs, and steps to take.
How you pay for your study away program will depend on the type of program you choose.
Earn transfer credits toward your education at Allegheny College while you’re studying away.
Study Away Program Options
Allegheny College sponsors short-term, semester-long, off-campus study away programs. You can also earn credit towards major and minor requirements while away.
