Global Risk Assessment Committee

The Global Risk Assessment Committee – Supporting Global Mobility

On September 28, 2015, the Global Risk Assessment Committee met for the first time after being charged into existence by President Judy Genshaft. The Global Risk Assessment Committee will analyze risk and security conditions of proposed or existing international travel and programs in order to assess whether the risks inherent in the program or at the locations are unacceptable for participants and the University. In making the determination, the committee will consider:
  • the safety of the faculty, staff and students
  • the University's ethical responsibilities to participants, in the spirit of academic freedom
  • the University's exposure to legal liabilities
  • the public relations issues relating to problematic program sites 
The Global Risk Assessment Committee will review all planned international travel involving students from the USF System to countries with a USF World Tier One risk designation.  Tier One countries are under a Travel Warning issued by the U.S. Department of State.  A Travel Warning advises U.S. citizens of significant risks of travel to that country. Student travel to a Tier One location is by default not permitted and programs are suspended. Supervising faculty may apply for consideration of a waiver to this policy. Exceptions to this travel policy must be endorsed by the Global Risk Assessment Committee and approved by the Senior Academic Officer.
 
The Global Risk Assessment Committee may review other planned international travel involving students from the USF System that involve significant levels of risk either because of the program design or because the location is in a country with a USF World Tier Two risk designation. Some program designs, as well as travel to some Tier Two countries, have significant risks due to health, safety, or security concerns.  These risks may be identified by the U.S. Department of State, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Geological Survey or other reputable bodies or individuals that express a valid concern about the program or the program location. Student travel on a program designed with significant risk or to a Tier Two location is considered on a case-by-case basis and reviewed by the Global Risk Assessment Committee at the request of the Director of Education Abroad.  If a review of the travel experience is requested by the Director of Education Abroad the program is suspended.  Supervising faculty may apply for consideration of a waiver to this policy. Exceptions to this travel policy must be endorsed by the Global Risk Assessment Committee and approved by the Senior Academic Officer.
 
When conditions warrant, the Global Risk Assessment Committee may recommend to the Senior Academic Officer that a USF international experience or program at a particular location be suspended or altered prior to departure, or that a USF international experience or program already underway be abbreviated or diverted and the participants removed from the country to a safe location or otherwise brought back to the United States.
 
An appeal for a waiver of the Global Risk Assessment Committee’s recommendation to the Senior Academic Officer may be made to the Senior Academic Officer by any faculty member, administrator or program leader for an international experience or program that has not departed.  For an international experience or program already underway, the decision of the Global Risk Assessment Committee is final.
 

Global Risk Assessment Committee Members

The Global Risk Assessment Committee will consist of the following permanent members and a meeting will require a quorum of greater than 50% attendance of filled positions: the Chair shall be a past or present senior university official, appointed by the President and Provost.
 
Other members shall include:
  • Vice Provost and USF System Associate Vice President for USF World
  • Representative from USF St. Petersburg
  • Representative from USF Sarasota-Manatee
  • Representative from USF Health delegated by Assistant Vice President for USF Health International
  • USF Faculty Senate President’s Delegate
  • USF System Faculty Council President’s Delegate
  • Assistant Vice President and Dean for Students
  • Assistant Vice President for Public Safety
  • Student Health Services Representative
  • General Counsel's Office
  • Emergency Health and Safety
  • Graduate School
  • Director of Education Abroad 
  • International Risk and Security Officer
The Global Risk Assessment Committee may invite the following individuals to come in as visitors in order to provide additional information and recommendations:
  • Education Abroad Staff Member involved with the program
  • Program leaders or faculty advisors
  • Others with particular expertise with the particulars of the risk environment 

Meeting Minutes:

For more information about the Global Risk Assessment Committee, please contact Ben Chamberlain, International Risk and Security Officer at bchamberlain@usf.edu