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Travel Warning Cancellation Policy

Travel Warning/Cancellation Policy

The University of St. Thomas uses U.S. State Department Travel Warnings as a guideline in determining whether an international UST-sponsored program (e.g., study abroad, sports, volunteer, music tour) will take place or whether a St. Thomas student may participate in a co-sponsored study abroad program in the country in question.

The State Department has three levels of information: Consular Info Sheets, Public Announcements and Travel Warnings. Consular Info Sheets are routinely issued and updated with logistical details about a particular country. Public Announcements are issued for specific incidents or situations that U.S. citizens should be aware of. Travel Warnings indicate that U.S. citizens are advised against travel in a given country, or that they should leave if there.

In using these Travel Warnings as a guideline, St. Thomas will strongly consider canceling a program for which such a warning is issued. St. Thomas also reserves the right to cancel its own programs or its approval of students' participation on co-sponsored programs in countries with severe safety issues but without the issuance of a U.S. State Department Travel Warning. The U.S. State Department information may be found at www.travel.state.gov

St. Thomas Programs:
Should a St. Thomas program be cancelled due to a Travel Warning that is issued for a country in which students are preparing to study or travel (i.e., not yet departed):
  • Students will be reimbursed any recoverable costs. Note that this means students could incur a financial loss.
  • Students will be advised on whether they may apply for or be able to participate in another suitable program (depending on time until departure, etc); or,
  • If another program is not feasible for students seeking to earn academic credit abroad, they will be advised on registering for UST courses on campus.
Should a St. Thomas program be cancelled due to a Travel Warning being issued for a country in which the program is already taking place:
  • Students will be given assistance in arranging departure from that country (may be to a third country). Students may incur costs associated with this change in travel plans.
  • St. Thomas will refund any recoverable costs to the student. Note that this means students may incur a financial loss.
  • St. Thomas will make every effort to arrange for the student to complete the requirements for earning academic credit for the program, if applicable, but this is not guaranteed.
  • The University has no responsibility or liability for a student who remains in the foreign country after receiving notice of St. Thomas' cancellation of the program.
Should a student choose to withdraw from a St. Thomas program in a country for which a Travel Warning has been issued, or withdraw from a program in a country for which no Travel Warning has been issued and about which the student has concerns, but St. Thomas does not cancel the program:

* The student is subject to the cancellation fee schedule published for that program. Note that this means the student may incur a loss.

Co-Sponsored Study Abroad Programs:
If St. Thomas withdraws its approval of a program in a country for which a student is preparing to study due to the issuance of a Travel Warning:
  • The student is subject to the policies of the program sponsor regarding cancellation and reimbursement of any payments or deposits; students may incur a financial loss.
  • Study Abroad will advise and assist the student in finding another suitable program if time allows, or;
  • Study Abroad will advise the student on registering for UST classes.
If St. Thomas withdraws its approval of a program in a country for which a student is currently studying due to the issuance of a Travel Warning:
  • The student is subject to the policies of the program sponsor regarding cancellation and reimbursement of any payments; students may incur a financial loss.
  • St. Thomas will offer advice on arranging departure from that country (may be to a third country). Student may incur costs associated with change in travel plans.
  • The student is subject to the policies of the program sponsor regarding reimbursement of any recoverable costs and the possibility of completing the requirements for earning academic credit for the program. Note that students may incur a loss and/or may not be able to earn credit (full or partial).
Quarantine Requirement// Exclusion from Campus
In addition, if any of the above cancellation situations are due to a pandemic or epidemic in the country of study, and if a UST community member returning from those countries has had a known risk of exposure and is determined by medical screening that quarantine is warranted, that individual will not be allowed on campus (of any one of the St. Thomas sites - St. Paul, Minneapolis, Owatonna or Rome) for a period as determined by the current medical guidelines.