Students who seek to do work or study abroad occasionally face an unexpected obstacle the College typically does not permit students to travel to countries with a U.S. Department of State travel warning for school-related purposes.
The arrival of College President Jim Yong Kim known for his work in global health has caused an uptick in student interest overseas, according to Amy Newcomb, student programs officer for the Dickey Center. Many applications for the Center's post-graduate fellowships cite Kim's work as an inspiration, Newcomb said. She added that many students have applied to travel to Haiti because of Kim's Partners in Health connection, although few receive permission because Haiti is on the travel warnings list.
"There's this general excitement to get out in the world and do something positive, but also a recognition that you can do that in all corners of the world," Newcomb said. "It doesn't necessarily have to be in a dangerous country or a country with political unrest or lots of crime."
There are 33 countries with current travel warnings, according to the U.S. State Department website. Of those countries on the warning list, the most popular destinations for Dartmouth students include Thailand, Kenya and Israel, Wohlforth said. Thailand was added to the list on May 15.
Among Dartmouth students who choose to travel abroad, "only a very small percentage" must apply for a travel waiver, according to Lindsay Whaley, associate dean for interdisciplinary studies.
Despite official restrictions, Dartmouth's small size enables administrators to examine proposals on a case-by-case basis and grant exceptions when warranted, Whaley said.
Students seeking College funding for research or internships in countries with travel warnings must first apply for a travel waiver from the Office of the Provost, Whaley said. A committee then reviews the application and provides a recommendation to the provost, who ultimately decides whether to approve the waiver. The committee consists of several administrators, including Whaley, and often seeks advice from other individuals on campus who are familiar with the location in question, Whaley said.
"We consult all different sources of information in terms of understanding the nature of the travel warning in place," Whaley said.
The committee gathers information from a variety of sources including the insurance company International SOS, media and news outlets, and information provided by the U.S., Canadian, British and Australian governments, Whaley said.
The student's background, previous travel experience in the country of interest and local connections also influence the committee's recommendation, according to Wohlforth.
Wohlforth said that the College's decision whether or not to grant a waiver is largely based on safety concerns.
"If we fund [students] we're somewhat responsible for what happens," Wohlforth said.
Sharon Muhwezi '11 said she has traveled to Kenya twice in the past year to work with Kenya's Centre for Conflict Resolution. Muhwezi, who was granted a travel waiver for both trips, said that applying for the waiver forced her to think about "basic security" issues that she might not have otherwise considered.
"They're trying to prevent you from walking blindly into a situation you don't understand," Muhwezi said. "I think some people are excited about their dreams of going into other countries and making a change, and they might not think of their own safety."
Muhwezi added that the application process was straightforward and that she experienced "zero frustration."
Ashley Walker '10 said she obtained a waiver last summer to get funding through the Dickey Center for an internship in Jerusalem. Walker also said the application process was simple, although she found the idea of a travel waiver unnecessary, especially since she had already traveled to the region.
"I found it a little beside the point, because when I did a transfer term in Egypt I had already visited Jerusalem," Walker said. "I feel as through they don't trust students enough, because if students have done these things before, it's kind of counterintuitive that the College would deny them that opportunity."
Walker said she was not aware of the travel waiver requirement before she applied for funding. She added that many students who are not granted travel waivers still choose to travel to the country in question without funding from the College.
"I don't think it necessarily helps to [prohibit travel through the College], because all it does is lead students to seek other ways do it," Walker said.
While College President Jim Yong Kim's experience in and focus on global health has inspired many students to travel abroad, Wohlforth said the trend towards travel to underdeveloped countries was apparent for years before Kim's arrival.
Because funding grants from the Dickey Center are generally competitive, many students are hesitant to add an "extra layer" of complexity to their applications by requesting a travel waiver, Newcomb said. Travel waiver requirements likely discourage some students who might have otherwise traveled to countries on the list, she said.
Only about one of 20 applicants for Dickey Center funding applies for a waiver each term, Wohlforth said.
All Ivy League schools have explicit policies regarding travel to potentially dangerous countries. Brown University has a policy similar to Dartmouth's, in which cases are considered individually and permission is occasionally granted, according to Whaley.
Harvard University and Yale University forbid students from traveling to countries with travel warnings on university-sponsored trips and do not grant exceptions under any circumstances, according to Whaley. Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania also do not allow any student travel to countries with travel warnings, according to their websites.
"It seems like we're one of the most flexible institutions in terms of even considering these requests," Newcomb said.
Dartmouth's small student enrollment compared to peer institutions' enables administrators to consider waiver requests, Whaley said.
"We're lucky that we're dealing with numbers that still allow us to have such a personal touch," Whaley said.
Institutions' individual policies reflect their willingness to assume some risk for the well-being of their students while abroad, Whaley said, adding that in the case of Harvard's "blanket policy," there is a "lower risk."
