Safety helpline
Need help? Email Indiana University’s travel safety helpline with any questions about travel safety guidelines or resources, or for information specific to your destination.
Resources
Resources at IU
Office of Overseas Study
IU’s Office of Overseas Study has compiled a range of helpful information for assisting students and other members of the IU community as they prepare and embark on international travel. Helpful resources include:
IU Travel Management Services
The Travel Management Services site provides policy and procedure details for IU sponsored travel, including instructions for using the online travel system and working with our contracted travel vendors, and a list of local and global discounts available to IU travelers.
Other Resources
- FBI travel tips
- U.S. State Department
- Currency Convertor
Xe.com provides a free universal currency converter, the same tool used by IU Travel Management Services to verify exchange rates on traveler reimbursements. It can be helpful to familiarize yourself with the basic exchange rate before visiting another country.
- Maps & Weather
There are a number of online sites dedicated to global maps and weather forecasts, including Google Maps and MSN Weather.
- Travel Insurance
You may wish to look into purchasing travel insurance. Individuals are often surprised to learn that coverage from their credit card company is less than expected. Travel Insurance Review has a nice tutorial: Travel Insurance 101.
- More U.S. State Department travel resources
The U.S. Department of State offers free reports on the current status of anycountry. If natural or political circumstances in a given country are deemed threatening to UScitizens, the State Department will issue a travel warning. Fact sheets for all countries,including current alerts and warnings, can be found on the U.S. Department of State site.
Travel Warnings
IU policy does not allow undergraduate programs to travel to countries on the State Department warning list, unless valid and compelling reasons can be provided along with the completion of a waiver form to ensure the student has considered the risk such a trip presents. Contact IU's Office of Overseas Study for further details. All IU travelers -- staff, faculty, and students -- are strongly encouraged to avoid travel to any location currently under a State Department travel warning.
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
Prior to departure on an international trip, IU travelers are encouraged to enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). The program provides the latest news and updates regarding your destination, and makes it easier for U.S. consulates and embassies to contact you in the event of a sudden emergency while abroad.