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Niagara University follows
the health and safety guidelines of NAFSA, National Association
of Foreign Student Advisors, found on their website. Click here to visit the NAFSA site and read guidelines for students and parents.
We issue each student a study
abroad handbook with health and safety information and contact
numbers, which is also accessible online,
and also provide an orientation that covers issues including
health and safety. The program hosts also provide a follow-up
orientation on site. When the situation merits, we send a university
chaperone to accompany groups of students. We require that
all students obtain an International Student Identity Card
(ISIC) which gives them supplemental health and travel accident
insurance including emergency medical evacuation and repatriation
coverage. All students are required to carry health insurance
that covers them overseas.
Since Niagara University sends students
abroad through outside programs, we send a representative to
review each site, including the program's information on safety
and security. In the event of a problem, the on-site program
coordinator contacts the appropriate local authorities, i.e.
U.S. Embassy, police or medical personnel, to handle the situation.The
program host then contacts the Study Abroad Coordinator from
Niagara University, 716-286-8360. In the event that the Study
Abroad Coordinator is not available or cannot be reached directly
or through Campus Safety, 716-286-8111, the following is the
list of emergency contacts in the following order:
- Dr. Bonnie Rose, Vice President for Academic Affairs 716-286-8360
Ms. Sheila Hausrath, Vice President for Student Life 716-286-8405
Mr. Joseph Cuda, Dean of Student Affairs 716-286-8566
Mr. Christopher Sheffield, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs 716-286-8566
- Mr. John Barker, Director of Campus Safety 716-286-8220
Niagara University only evacuates
program participants based on the recommendation of either the
U.S. Department of State of the U.S Embassy in the region for
situations of political unrest or outbreak of infectious disease.
If the U.S. Embassy arranges to evacuate U.S. citizens and remove
personnel from the country, then Niagara University issues a
plan to join the evacuation via the office of the host program
overseas.
If evacuation is necessary
for groups booked through Niagara University, the Study Abroad
Coordinator contacts Cataract Travel, who offers 24 hour emergency
service. Contact numbers are as follows:
24hr. service anywhere
in US, Canada, or
Mexico - 1-800-243-7886
The Study Abroad Coordinator will
assist in individually booked arrangements if the student desires.
During turbulent political times, Niagara University will book
with commercial carriers rather than charters, since commercial
carriers allow greater flexibility and have a working relationship
between carriers.
Additional Contacts:
- State Department Switchboard: 202-647-4000
(Call this number and ask for
the country desk)
- Overseas Emergency 202-647-5225
- Consular Affairs 202-647-3600
- After hours Duty Officer 202-647-1512
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