health and safety
The San Francisco Art Institute considers the health and safety of students on education abroad opportunities one of its top priorities. While no organization or institution can guarantee the safety of participants, the risks can be significantly reduced if staff, students, parents, and advisers at the host and home institutions all work together.
In response to the concern for the well-being of students, SFAI has developed policies and procedures related to education abroad opportunities which require all participating students, as part of their time at the university, to complete an Off-Campus Study Student Contract and Off-Campus Study Waiver and Release Form.
Health Insurance
Students must have health insurance coverage either provided through SFAI student health insurance or a student’s individual insurance plan. SFAI requires that students take out additional travel insurance that covers them for evacuation and repatriation. Students who are already enrolled in the SFAI Student Health Insurance Plan are automatically covered. Students not enrolled must purchase the additional coverage at a minimal charge.
Before studying abroad, students must complete the Proof of Health Insurance form.
Travel Clinics
A student’s family physician may not have the necessary background to provide travel information, since travel medicine is a unique specialty. A travel specialist is trained to consider your health history, current medications, drug allergies, and travel plans when recommending shots and other medications.
Find a travel clinic and make an appointment as soon as possible so that you can get a scheduled appointment in time to complete any recommended immunization series. Many travel clinics often book far in advance (especially around the holidays), and some immunizations need to be started months in advance of your departure.
A good place to start in identifying a travel clinic is with your U.S. health insurance. This allows you to fully understand your coverage, if any, for the visit. Note: travel clinic treatments are often not covered in U.S. insurance plans.
San Francisco has an excellent clinic, the Adult Immunization and Travel Clinic, located near the Civic Center.
Health and Safety Guidelines
In preparation to study abroad, you should:
- Register your trip with the U. S. Embassy. (The Global Programs Office will do this for all students for the length of their academic program. However, if students plan to travel before or after, this should be done individually.)
- Read and carefully consider all materials relate to the health, legal, environmental, political, cultural, and religious conditions in your host country.
- Consider your health and other personal circumstances when applying for or accepting a place in a program.
- Make available to your host institution accurate and complete physical and mental health information and any other personal data that is necessary in planning for a safe and healthy study abroad experience.
- Assume responsibility for all the elements necessary for your personal preparation for the program and participate fully in orientations.
- Obtain and maintain appropriate insurance coverage and abide by any conditions imposed by the carriers.
- Inform your parents/guardians/family about your participation in the study abroad program, provide them with emergency contact information, and keep them informed on an ongoing basis.
- Understand and comply with the terms of participation, codes of conduct, and emergency procedures of your program, and obey host-country laws.
- Be aware of local conditions and customs that may present health or safety risks when making daily choices and decisions. Promptly express any health or safety concerns to the on-site staff or other appropriate individuals.
- Behave in a manner that is respectful of the rights and well-being of others and encourage others to behave in a similar manner.
- Accept responsibility for your own decisions and actions.
- Become familiar with the procedures for obtaining emergency health and law enforcement services in your host country.
Health and Safety Resources
Centers for Disease Control
Travel Health Online
World Health Organization
Lonely Planet Travel Guides
State Department Travel Warnings
Foreign drug laws
