UF has no plans to pull its study abroad programs as national concern in the legislature for students abroad gains momentum.
A bill introduced to the House of Representatives in September will require colleges and universities to provide reports on harm that occurs during students’ stays abroad.
The bill comes on the heels of a Connecticut student who filed a $41 million lawsuit after she became seriously ill from a tick bite on a school-sponsored trip to China in 2007.
Some colleges see this as a reason to end programs in locations deemed too risky.
Andrea R. Kim, a study abroad adviser at UF’s International Center, said UF completes risk assessment of the programs it provides to students before recruiting participants.
The safety of students studying abroad is of vital importance to UF, she said.
“This is why UFIC exists,” Kim said.
The university complies with all travel alerts and warnings to make sure students are well aware of any safety concerns, Kim said.
There are pre-departure sessions that all study abroad participants must attend before going overseas.
“Colleges are now hiring full-time risk management staff,” Kim said.
UF students going abroad must also obtain health insurance before they are allowed to travel. Raychel Kinner, a UF industrial and systems engineering senior, said UF provides important information about study abroad.
“You don’t realize how different the rest of the world lives until you spend a long time living like a native,” Kinner, 22, said.
[A version of this story ran on page 8 on 11/7/2014]
