Health and Safety

The Center for Global and Intercultural Study is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of all of our students abroad. The information on these pages is intended to serve as a resource to students and parents when preparing to go abroad and while overseas.

Students who tend to their safety and wellness before departing and while abroad are better equipped to reach their academic and personal goals. It is important for you to acknowledge health and safety challenges so that you can make informed decisions and prepare to mitigate these risks.

Health Abroad

CGIS has a dedicated Health and Safety Advisor who is available to answer any questions and address any concerns that you may have before you depart or while you are abroad. Contact Rachel Reuter, Risk Mitigation Manager, at reuterra@umich.edu.

CGIS very strongly encourages students to self-disclose any physical or mental health concerns that they have, so that we can help them establish a self-care plan for the time they are abroad.

Health Topics

GeoBlue (BCBS Global) Health Insurance

Vaccinations

Medications

Food Safety and Allergies

Mental Health

Disabilities and Accommodations

Dating, Sex, and Sexual Assault/Harrassment

Self-Disclosure of Health Information

Pre-Departure Health Requirements

Travel Health Prep Guide

Program Safety

All CGIS programs undergo an approval process that examines potential health and safety concerns. Though it is impossible to make a location 100% safe or to guarantee traveler safety (even here in the US), this process strives to mitigate potential risk and increase overall student safety. If certain events in a study location are a cause for concern, such as a political uprising/demonstrations or a natural disaster, the CGIS Risk Mitigation and Compliance Manager will monitor the ongoing situation, coordinate with local partners and/or contact students / determine next steps if the program has already begun.