On March 11th 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic. While the world has largely adapted to the ongoing pandemic environment, travel may still result in health risks, delays, and additional financial cost. The University cannot and does not assume responsibility for these risks. Please review the important information below. 

Resources

• The Department of State (find your destination page)
• The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Travelers’ Health.
• International Air Transport Association’s COVID-19 Travel Regulations Map
• Your host organization, partners, etc. in country.
• Immediately register in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

Students

Please remember that all students (undergraduate and graduate) traveling internationally for their academic advancement are required to work with CSU’s Education Abroad office. Email internationalsafety@colostate.edu for additional information.

 Kuali TEM

Please do not forget to have your trip/ travel approved in Kuali TEM PRIOR to departure.

Financial Considerations

You are participating in this travel at your own discretion. CSU is not responsible for additional costs incurred during travel. Please budget in advance for possible quarantine, flight cancelations, evacuations, and travel delays, Determine in advance whether there are any grant, research, or departmental funds available for these expenses. Please understand that for most instances there may be no department budget available, which would mean you need to plan accordingly.

International Research

Review the Considerations for Field Work .

Insurance information

Carefully review the information in the summary of insurance benefits. Like most international insurance plans there are exclusions for pandemics. If you need medical care, COVID-19 related or otherwise, that care will be provided at the nearest adequate medical facility. You will not be evacuated to the U.S. unless it is deemed medically necessary. Note that CSU’s international health insurance is not travel insurance. There is no coverage provided for flight cancelations or travel interruptions. There is however limited coverage for unanticipated expenses incurred as the result of a positive test and a mandated quarantine that results in an extension of your itinerary. Contact internationalsafety@colostate.edu with questions about CSU’s international insurance.

Returning to campus

To protect the community and reduce possible exposure, all travelers are expected to closely follow CDC guidance before, during and after traveling internationally.

Consult with a medical provider

The mortality rate for those infected with COVID-19 increases with both age and the presence of underlying medical conditions. Consult with a medical professional before departure. CSU and the CDC recommends that all travelers are vaccinated against COVID-19 for the duration of their time abroad; this includes boosters, as applicable. Travelers are also advised to receive a flu shot. Bring an adequate amount of medicine in case of travel delays. 

Foreign governments may implement restrictions with little notice. This includes any destination you may travel through during layovers. You are required to comply with all foreign government regulations, including requirements that may delay your return to campus. Please plan accordingly.

Increased Risk

International travel puts you at greater risk of exposure to COVID-19. Continue to use the COVID-19 Reporter to document any symptoms. The economic and social ramifications of COVID-19 may exacerbate the risks already present in in your destination. At any time, hospital care and other emergency services may reach capacity and prioritize residents. Review resources such as travel.state.gov so that you understand these risks and have mitigation strategies in place.

March 14, 2020

IMPORTANT
Effective immediately all non-essential, non-athletic faculty, staff and international travel is suspended until further notice.

Please see the definition of essential travel in response to COVID-19 here. For more detailed information about CSU’s travel guidance please see COVID-19 University Travel Guidance. For travelers traveling internationally on CSU essential business, it is extremely important to: Please ensure that all trip information include trip itineraries are accurately entered into Kuali TEM. (For trip itineraries please use the per diem tab.) Kuali TEM is how CSU and RMI (Risk Management & Insurance) track international travel. It is important to ensure accurate information. Please ensure that pre-trip travel authorization documents are submitted and approved in Kuali TEM PRIOR to departure. RMI has a nightly feed into the Kuali TEM system. Please ensure that traveler profiles are up to date. Please ensure that emergency contact information is up to date. Please remind travelers to enroll in the US State Department’s STEP program. The benefits of this free program is that travelers can receive up-to-date, destination-specific information and it enables the US Embassy to contact US citizens in an emergency. Please remind travelers to check the following websites for the most up-to-date information regarding their travel destinations

• The CDC’s Travel Health Notices. CDC Level 3 is “Avoid Nonessential Travel”
• The US State Department Travel Advisories  – The highest level imposed by the US State Department is Level 4- “Do Not Travel”

Cancellation: If the traveler decides to cancel their trip after it has been submitted in Kuali, and RMI has generated an approval. Please remember to cancel in Kuali. Please email RMI – sally.alexander@colostate.edu that the trip has been canceled. (RMI has an additional step in their system to record a cancellation.) If faculty have any questions please have them contact Sally Alexander – sally.alexander@colostate.edu or 970 491 7726

March 2nd, 2020

CSU is actively monitoring the ever-evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. 

Currently, CSU is not restricting Faculty and Staff travel from traveling internationally. For student travel (this includes graduate students) please remember for student travelers need to work with the Office of Education Abroad. However, as this situation continues to evolve additional travel restrictions may be imposed by the CDC and/ or by the US State Department. (As indeed they have been for a number of countries – such as Mainland China, and Italy- the most recent examples.) Given the uncertainty, and fluidity of this situation it is extremely important to: Please ensure that all trip information including trip itineraries are accurately entered into Kuali TEM. (For trip itineraries please use the per diem tab.) Kuali TEM is how CSU and RMI (Risk Management & Insurance) track international travel. It is important to ensure accurate information. Please ensure that pre-trip travel authorization documents are submitted and approved in Kuali TEM PRIOR to departure. RMI has a nightly feed into the Kuali TEM system. Please ensure that traveler profiles are up to date. Please ensure that emergency contact information is up to date. Please remind travelers to enroll in the US State Department’s STEP program. The benefits of this free program are that travelers can receive up-to-date, destination-specific information and it enables the US Embassy to contact US citizens in an emergency. Please remind travelers to check the following websites for the most up-to-date information regarding their travel destinations:

• The CDC’s Travel Health Notices – CDC Level 3 is “Avoid Nonessential Travel”
• The US State Department Travel Advisories – The highest level imposed by the US State Department is Level 4- “Do Not Travel”

Cancellation: If the traveler decides to cancel their trip after it has been submitted in Kuali, and RMI has generated an approval. Please remember to cancel in Kuali. Please email RMI – sally.alexander@colostate.edu that the trip has been canceled. (RMI has an additional step in their system to record a cancellation.) If faculty have any questions please have them contact Sally Alexander – sally.alexander@colostate.edu or 970 491 7726