Safety Resources

We are fortunate to have great partners to help us monitor local, national and regional conditions to guide us in safely conducting our planned activities.  Further, we have well-qualified trip directors and an exemplary institutional Learning Abroad Program who are each monitoring conditions to ensure that we take all reasonable precautions. ​

It is also extremely important that each participant in our programs does his or her part in helping to ensure both personal and group safety.  We have firm safety guidelines that we expect each program participant to follow:​

• Please follow all of the ‘health’ precautions provided to you, including food and water safety, malaria prophylaxis, etc.

• One of the biggest risks we face when traveling is auto accidents and auto-pedestrian accidents.  Please take all appropriate care and remember that in much of the world, the pedestrian does not have the right-of-way.

• Many of the problems that arise with foreign travel involve alcohol.  The policy on alcohol is as follows: Legal consumption of alcoholic beverages is not permitted while on an Ensign Global program. Violation of these policies, may result in dismissal from the program. Also note that the use of drugs or other substances considered illegal in the US are strictly prohibited.

• It is important that undue attention (whether positive or negative) to the group with which you are traveling is avoided.  This includes the following:​

  • Show respect for local residents and their customs.  Your remarks that are met to be humorous or only understood by fellow group members are often overheard.

  • Personal or group information is not to be disclosed.  If you are pressured to give information about your personal contact information, where the group is staying, your travel itinerary, the in-country partners, etc., please refer those making the inquiries to the trip director.  Also, under no circumstances are arrangements to be made for meeting someone. All such coordination should go through trip directors.

  • No gifts or personal donations are to be made.  If you feel you want to provide assistance in some way, please work through the trip director.

  • No individual or subgroup excursions are allowed.  During the time you are formally under the direction of the program, it is imperative that you stay with the group and follow the developed program.  Traveling is rigorous and requires appropriate pacing of activities – breaks in the schedule are designed for the health of each participant, for development of group cohesion, and to provide for some flexibility in the program to respond to unanticipated developments.

  • The US is often perceived as a country that likes to emphasize its dominance in the world.  It is important to be sensitive to this perception and take care not to promote such an image (whether intentionally or unintentionally).  Please also avoid wearing clothing or carrying bags with the US flag or other US identifying features as such displays may be misinterpreted.​

Violating these recommendations (or any additional guidelines deemed appropriate by the trip director or the local host) in ways that may put you or your group at undue risk may result in dismissal from the program and/or may initiate academic disciplinary action as outlined in the University of Utah Student Handbook as we simply must maintain safety as a priority.  If you have any questions about activities that may be of concern, please speak to your trip director.