Health and Safety
The safety, security, and well-being of study abroad program participants are of utmost importance to Veritas. While neither Veritas nor Veritas’s host institutions can guarantee a risk-free environment, all efforts are made to best ensure the safety and well-being of our participants throughout the duration of the program. Veritas follows prudent measures to verify that all transportation, lodging, medical facilities, communications, and emergency procedures are in place to reduce risk for study abroad participants.
While Veritas is firmly committed to the provision of this support, we also emphasize to students, faculty, and parents that all program participants must take responsibility for their own safety and security. This is highlighted during pre-departure preparations, on-site orientation, and throughout students’ stay in the host country. Points of emphasis during the orientation include students using common sense, being aware of their surroundings, and not putting themselves in compromising positions with the abuse of drugs or alcohol. The same precautions anyone would follow in their home communities in the U.S. should be maintained when traveling abroad.
Stateside Veritas support is available to students, faculty and parents 24-7 as well. The U.S.-based Veritas office may be contacted during regular business hours (Monday-Thursday, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM CST / Friday, 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM) at 512-480-8522. During the weekend and evening hours, ISA's telephone answering machine provides the number for the U.S.-based ISA/Veritas emergency contact that is on duty 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The ISA Director of Health, Safety and Security and ISA/Veritas staff work together to answer emergency calls and respond appropriately by following the Veritas emergency guidelines.
As a division of International Studies Abroad (ISA), Veritas uses the infrastructure, procedures, and guidelines of ISA. The information linked below describes ISA’s infrastructure, procedures, and guidelines that will help Veritas reduce students’ risk while abroad.