A non-emergency situation does not immediately impact the health and safety of the traveler, yet may still require assistance. Non-emergencies may include lost passport, wallet, luggage, etc., visa assistance, canceled or delayed flight, minor illness or injury, etc. For non-emergency situations, travelers should follow the non-emergency protocols of the on-site contact or the sponsoring U-M department, which may include contact via email or calling the contact during business hours. When in doubt, treat health, safety, and security situations as an emergency and follow emergency protocols.

U-M Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS):

+1 734-763-1131 (Ann Arbor)
+1 313-593-5333 (Dearborn)
+1 810-762-3333 (Flint)

Let the DPSS emergency responder know that you are a U-M traveler abroad. DPSS will transfer you to a U-M emergency responder.

Before departure, download the complete General Emergency Protocols for U-M International Travelers and program the numbers into your phone.

Please read the following for a more detailed protocol for addressing on-site emergencies:

Step 1: Tend to Your Immediate Safety and/or Medical Needs

Get somewhere you feel safe, either by going to a safe location or by sheltering in place.

Contact local police in the case of feeling physically threatened or you are a victim of crime.

Go to the nearest medical facility if you are in need of emergency care.

• When you have time, contact a GeoBlue Travel Abroad Health Insurance Advisor at +1-610-254-8771 to arrange for direct payment (where possible) so you do not have to pay out of pocket. If you do not have time to contact a GeoBlue Advisor, save your receipts for a reimbursement claim.
• Under certain circumstances, GeoBlue insurance is able to provide resources for travelers who may need to return to the United States early. Please contact U-M DPSS at +1 734-763-1131 and ask for a U-M emergency responder for international travelers to explore such options since this service needs pre-authorization through GeoBlue.

Step 2: Make Appropriate Local Contacts

Contact your U-M department administrator, program leader, on-site partner, or on-site contact who can provide emergency support or suggestions.

Reach out to local people you trust to see how they can be of assistance.

Contact the US Embassy or embassy for your country of citizenship in the event you need legal assistance or need to replace your passport.

Step 3: Contact the University of Michigan

Contact your U-M department contact or the office sponsoring your travel to provide an update and to seek emergency advice/support as necessary.

In the event, your U-M departmental contact is unavailable, call the U-M Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) at +1 734-763-1131 (Ann Arbor), +1 313-593-5333 (Dearborn), or +1 810-762-3333 (Flint). Let the DPSS emergency responder know that you are a U-M student abroad. DPSS will transfer you to a U-M emergency responder for international travelers. The emergency responder can provide you with immediate next steps, put you in touch with your U-M department, contact GeoBlue on your behalf, and/or put you in touch with other U-M support resources.

Resources for sexual or gender-based misconduct:

For confidential consultation, advocacy, and support, you can call the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center’s 24/7 hotline at (734) 936-3333. Or connect during business hours via chat through SAPAC’s website http://sapac.umich.edu/

For reporting sexual and gender-based misconduct and other forms of interpersonal violence you can file a report with Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX Office at https://sexualmisconduct.umich.edu/reporting-process/

For resources outside of the University, RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) has a 24/7 r at: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

Emergency funds for students on University of Michigan Related Travel (UMRT) are available to students eligible for need-based financial assistance who are unable to meet immediate, essential expenses related to unexpected international travel disruptions related to public health guidelines (COVID-19 or otherwise) that the GeoBlue Post Departure Trip Insurance does not cover. Our goal is to provide financial assistance to students on financial aid who would not otherwise be able to cover such unforeseen expenses. 

A team of staff members from the Office of the Provost, in consultation with the Dean of Students Office (DoS) and the Office of Financial Aid (OFA), will review all requests for emergency funds to determine eligibility for financial support.  Not all students are eligible for funding, and funds may not be able to cover all expenses. If a student’s request cannot be funded, there are other options available, such as the Dean of Students emergency funds, CEW+, Rackham, other funds around campus,  and the student’s school/college to determine eligibility for funding from that unit.

Criteria

1. Undergraduate and graduate students with demonstrated financial need, based on U-M financial aid data. Students must have applied for and received need-based support through the Office of Financial Aid.
   
2. Students must be traveling internationally for U-M Related Travel at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. Emergency funds are not eligible for incidents that occur while students are on personal travel unrelated to U-M program activities. 

Expenses generally covered

Unexpected costs associated with international travel and related to public health guidelines (COVID-19 or otherwise), including but not limited to:

1. Reasonable flight change costs associated with a program that is canceled by U-M, either before departure or while students are abroad. 
2. Reasonable costs associated with changing flights in the event the student is unable to fly because they tested positive for an infectious disease before flying to the program or study site or departing a country abroad where the U-M related activity is taking place.   
3. Reasonable costs, such as government-mandated quarantine or isolation,  resulting from the student testing positive for an infectious disease while in a country abroad where the U-M related activity is taking place that results in expenses not covered by the GeoBlue Study Abroad health insurance or the  GeoBlue Post Departure Trip Insurance Benefit.
4. Medical costs that are not covered by U-M’s travel abroad health insurance or by the U-M program fee.

Supporting Documentation 

If approved for emergency funding, appropriate documentation of expenses will be required. Eligible expenses for funding are determined in consultation with the OFA. As such, OFA requires documentation for certain expenses in order to approve funds or increase a student’s Cost of Attendance for many of the emergency needs students are facing. Supporting documentation (receipts) is needed for the following expenses:

• Travel (i.e., plane ticket or change flight fee)
• Housing (receipt from hotel or other accommodations)
• Living expenses associated with being abroad longer than expected (For example, estimates of meals for the duration of quarantine)
• Medical Expenses (receipt from medical provider)

Expenses Generally Not Covered

Emergency funds generally do not cover:

• Expenses due to poor financial planning; 
• Expenses incurred while students are on personal travel unrelated to U-M program activities;
• Expenses that would be covered by the GeoBlue Post Departure Trip Insurance Benefit, such as self-isolation/quarantine space that is required by a physician or government authority
• Emergency expenses that are covered by the student’s study abroad / program fees or other U-M emergency funds, such as the Dean of Students emergency funds or other funds around campus; 
• Paying for expenses that would impact the student’s ability to receive future financial aid. 

Eligibility Verification and Other Resources

Students may be asked to provide supporting documentation of expenses as necessary and required by the Office of Financial Aid, including providing a copy of their financial aid notice. Prior to granting funding, the Office of the Provost will consult with the Dean of Students Office and the Office of Financial Aid to determine a student’s financial need and eligibility to receive aid based on their current funding. 

For international students, the Office of the Provost will consult with the International Center to determine eligibility rather than with OFA.

If all necessary information and documentation is present for an emergency funding request, the approval process can take as little as one business day and the disbursement process can begin. If further information or documentation is needed, the approval process can take longer. 

Normally funds are disbursed to a student’s account within 1-2 business days of the funding approval. This may take up to one week. Emergency funds will generally appear in a student’s bank account in 2-3 business days from when they are disbursed. The Office of Financial Aid will disburse the emergency funds to the student’s bank account (if a direct deposit has been set up) or by check to the student’s listed address. If mailed, the check will generally arrive within a few business days but is subject to factors such as holidays and distance. 

How to apply for funding. 

To apply for funding, contact the Office of the Provost Global Engagement Team by phone (+1 734-647-9981) or email (global.engagement@umich.edu) to connect with a staff member. If it is after business hours, leave a message, and a staff member will get back to you the next business day.  Students with urgent funding requests that cannot wait for U-M business hours may call the U-M Department of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) emergency line at +1 734-763-1131. DPSS will transfer you to a U-M emergency responder.

When students call or email U-M to request emergency funding, they should be prepared to provide a copy of their financial aid notice.

Alternative Funding Sources

If a student’s request cannot be funded, other options are available, such as the Dean of Students emergency funds, CEW+, Rackham, other funds around campus,  and the student’s school/college to determine eligibility for funding from that unit.