The University of Michigan safety plan process is designed to help international travelers develop mitigation strategies for health, safety, and security risks. For travel to Travel Warning and Travel Restriction Destinations (which is all countries at this time), safety plan proposals must be submitted for review at least 3 weeks prior to departure.

Please note that according to the Office of the Provost Spring/Summer 2020 Engaged Learning Guidelines, students engaging in off-campus, U-M related activities in the U.S. must submit a Student Registration for Engaged Learning Activity.

Instructions for submitting travel safety plans for review:

1. Launch an INDIVIDUAL Safety Plan for international travel, GROUP Safety Plan for international travel, or a Student Request for Engaged Learning & Domestic Travel in M-Compass.
2. An account will be created for you in M-Compass and M-Compass will send you email instructions for next steps.
3. Follow the instructions in the email, which include locating, completing, and submitting the Safety Plan Questionnaire in M-Compass.
4. Once submitted, Safety Plans will automatically be forwarded to the International Travel Oversight Committee (ITOC) for review. You do not need to email plans to ITOC.
5. Need help? a Download M-Compass Help – Submit Student Request for Engaged Learning & Domestic Travel or M-Compass Help – Submit a Safety Plan for International Travel 

The following Example Safety Plans are for reference and can help you gather the information needed to complete your Safety Plan in M-Compass. All Safety Plan proposals for Travel Warning / Restriction destinations must be completed in M-Compass. 

Example Safety Plan for Individual Traveler

Example Safety Plan for Group Travel

Flowchart for U-M Student Safety Plan for International Travel / COVID-19 Edition flowchart

Preparing to stay safe and healthy is key to a successful experience abroad. The U-M Safety Abroad orientation walks you through important travel strategies, including risk assessment, situational awareness, and handling emergency situations.  This on-line orientation is open to all members of the U-M community.

Visit safetyabroad.umich.edu to start the orientation.

Technology needs can vary by international destination. Personal information and sensitive university data can be at risk during overseas travel. U-M Information and Technology Services offers the following resources for traveling with technology:

• Mobile device security
• Safe Computing Guidelines for Domestic and International Travelers
• Traveling with Duo
• Protect Sensitive Data

Additional Technology Resources and Policies

• Export Controls and International Travel
• Security of Personally Owned Devices That Access or Maintain Sensitive Institutional Data (SPG 601.33)
• Institutional Data Resource Management Policy (SPG 601.12)
• Information Security Policy (SPG 601.27)
• Information Security Incident Reporting (SPG 601.25)
• Report an IT Security Incident

• OSAC: The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) provides country specific crime and safety reports, daily news, and U.S. consulate alerts and warnings. Click here to download the Crime and Safety Report for University Travel Warning or Travel Restriction destinations.
• Smart Traveler Enrollment: Enrollment with STEP will enable U.S. citizens to receive information from the Embassy regarding new or updated State Department Travel Warnings and/or Alerts, as well as security and informational messages. In addition, the Embassy can reach out to travelers in the event of an emergency in country, and facilitate communication with the traveler should their family need to reach them in an emergency. Travelers who are not U.S. citizens should enroll in her or his country’s STEP equivalent. 
• Students Abroad – U.S. Department of State: A user-friendly tool that consolidates multiple U.S. Department of State resources to assist travelers in learning about proper visas, Travel Warnings, recent embassy message, important contact information, general safety and security advice, and more.
• Travel Warnings and Alerts: To gain a better, holistic understanding of the travel risks in your intended travel destination, please view more than one government’s travel warning and alert information. A few to explore may include: United States Department of State, Australian Government Smart Traveller, Canada Country Travel Advice, and the United Kingdom Foreign Travel Advice.