The University has issued guidance recommending that students, faculty and staff defer all Brown-related travel to over a dozen countries in the Middle East, according to a Tuesday Today@Brown message.
The recommendation, which the University has followed, was made by Brown’s Global Travel Risk Assessment Committee in consultation with the Office of Global Travel Operations, Risk and Resilience.
The University is “closely monitoring the evolving security situation that began in Iran,” the message reads.
The travel deference recommendation applies to Brown-related travel to Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, according to the message.
The “strong recommendation” was issued “out of an abundance of caution, and in light of the dynamic and uncertain security environment,” the message reads. The guidance will remain in place until further notice.
Students traveling to any high-risk area for Brown-related purposes must submit a safety plan for GTRAC to review before receiving University travel support.
The message also noted that Brown maintains war risk exclusions for Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. This means that students, faculty and staff who plan to travel to these areas must complete a GTRAC-reviewed safety plan, receive approval from their dean or unit head and purchase war risk insurance before they leave. Travel to those regions is also exempt from the University’s travel abroad accident and sickness insurance.
This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.
Emily Feil is a university news and metro editor covering staff & student labor and RISD. She is from Long Beach, NY and plans to concentrate in English and international & public affairs. In her free time, she can be found watching bad TV and reading good books.
