Trip Safety

The Winter Term in Service (WTIS) office thoroughly researches each agency as well as each site.  We have established relationships with our host agencies which are used to having volunteers on a regular basis and understand the importance of safety.  Should there be any civil unrest, natural emergency, or other unforeseen event; the team will be rerouted to a safer destination.  The Winter Term in Service program is prepared to take the following precautions for the security of its service teams:

• The WTIS Office and faculty leader(s) will check with the State Department periodically throughout the fall semester and immediately prior to the team leaving for the most recent travel advisories and other pertinent information.
• The WTIS Office or the sponsoring agency will register the team names and passport information with the U.S. Embassy immediately upon arrival in the host country.

• The safest route of travel will be identified prior to departure from the USA.

• Team members will never travel alone. They will be required to travel in groups only.

• The WTIS Office will rely on the sponsoring agency's local expertise and advice on team safety issues and will relay this information to all team members.

• Security issues will be discussed at fall team orientations to ensure security measures are fully understood.

Keeping this in mind service sites may be changed at any point in the year for any of the following reasons:

• The U.S. State Department declares the host country to be a politically unstable area by posting a travel warning or public announcement that indicates a significant lack of safety for the team.
• The contract with the host agency becomes invalid, meaning that either party (WTIS or the agency) is unable to uphold the original agreement between the agency and the WTIS program. This could entail financial or contractual problems or changes in time constraints.
• A sudden increase in cost beyond the allowable norm established by the WTIS Advisory Committee.
• A health risk is identified.

In the case of the occurrence of any of these events, attempts will be made to shift the team to another site.

We will make every attempt to select a site that offers similar service options for the team, a site in which the inhabitants speak English or the language the team has planned to use, and a site that is in the same approximate price range, if not lower than, the original site. The secondary site is to be politically stable and must conform to the site selection standards established by the WTIS Advisory Committee. The site is also to have a stable and proper coordinating agency.

The final decision on the cancellation of a site and the determination of a new site lies with the WTIS Office. Appeals regarding a cancellation of the trip would be reviewed by the Vice President of Student Services and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.