I. Scope:
This policy applies to all George Mason University employees and students.
II. Policy Statement:
All Covered International Travel must be registered with the university. Covered International Travel to Hazardous or High-Risk Areas is prohibited, unless approved by the university. Individuals engaging in Covered International Travel must comply with all requirements of this policy and its procedures and all directions issued by the university.
III. Definitions:
Covered International Travel: International travel that:
- is engaged in by employees or students related to their work or study at the university or that is done in their capacity as employees or students, including all International Educational Travel, regardless of whether the travel is paid by the university; or
- is associated with approved outside activities under University Policy 4021; or
- involves travel with university laptops or equipment; or
- is otherwise directed by the university’s Emergency Management Executive Committee in response to an emergency situation.
Covered International Travel does not include purely personal travel unless such travel involves any of the activities mentioned above.
Hazardous Area: Any area that falls under U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or 4 (Do Not Travel), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travel Health Notice Warning Level 3 (Avoid non-essential travel) or higher; or is subject to comprehensive economic sanctions or export controls. Hazardous areas may also be identified on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the University Travel Advisory Committee (UTAC).
High Risk Area: Any country or area designated by the U.S. Government as a Foreign Country of Concern. These currently include China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. See the Office of Research Integrity and Assurance (“ORIA”) Research Security website for the most up-to-date list.
International Educational Travel: Any international Covered International Travel undertaken by a student in association with a credit-bearing course, or by a student or participant in a noncredit bearing‑‑ course or program. International Educational Travel may include study abroad courses, academic conferences, independent study, internships, student research, experiential learning, or field experiences.
IV. Responsibilities:
A. Risk, Safety, & Resilience bears overall responsibility for the administration of this policy.
B. UTAC is responsible for reviewing and approving or denying all Covered International Travel to Hazardous Areas to ensure compliance with this policy and associated procedures. UTAC will investigate and assess potential threats related to Covered International Travel to Hazardous Areas and will coordinate physical and personal security of individuals on Covered International Travel during emergencies. UTAC will maintain the university’s records on Covered International Travel to Hazardous Areas.
C. Global Education Office (GEO) is responsible for registration, training, and coordination of International Educational Travel and for coordination with university officials in response to emergencies involving students or faculty/staff participating in International Educational Travel. GEO will review student travel registrations for International Education Travel to ensure compliance with this policy and associated procedures. GEO will also, in coordination with UTAC, investigate and assess potential threats and coordinate physical and personal security during crises related to International Educational Travel. GEO will maintain the university’s records on International Educational Travel.
D. Supervisors, Deans, and Heads of Departments are responsible for ensuring that their employees adhere to this policy and related procedures.
E. Operational Risk Management, risk.gmu.edu, is responsible for establishing minimum travel insurance requirements and providing guidance upon request.
F. The Office of Research Integrity and Assurance (ORIA) is responsible for reviewing and approving international travel in advance if traveling to:
(i) a comprehensively sanctioned country, OR to a militarily embargoed country for a traveler who works with data controlled by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Visit the ORIA website Export Controls – Office of Research Integrity and Assurance or email [email protected] to determine if U.S. Government approval is required for a trip and to obtain guidance for traveling with university equipment and laptops; or
(ii) a Foreign Country of Concern, as designated by the U.S. Government. Visit the Research Security website at Research Security and International Collaborations – Office of Research Integrity and Assurance or email [email protected] for guidance.
G. Employees are responsible for registering with GEO all group International Educational Travel that the employee is facilitating or organizing. Employees are responsible for registering all individual Covered International Travel in the university’s travel management system.
H. Students are responsible for registering all Covered International Travel with GEO and complying with this policy and procedures regarding any Covered International Travel to Hazardous or High-Risk Areas. Employees are responsible for complying with this policy and procedures regarding any Covered International Travel to Hazardous or High-Risk Areas.
I. Employees and students are responsible for regularly checking the U.S. Department of State Advisories, Centers for Disease Control, and other websites to stay apprised of, and updated on, any and all travel advisories, warnings, or notices to the countries and regions currently visiting or that they will visit as part of their travel.
V. Compliance
Employees and students who engage in unregistered or unauthorized Covered International Travel or who fail to follow university ‑provided directions may not receive any sought academic credit and may not be reimbursed for any expenses associated with their travel (if eligible) as per University Policy 2101 – Travel, Meals, and Entertainment Expenditures, and may be subject to disciplinary action.
VI. Timetable for Review:
This policy, and any related procedures, shall be reviewed every three years or more frequently as needed.
VII. Amendments:
Amendments to this policy will be approved by the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and the Provost and Executive Vice President.
VIII. Dates:
This policy became effective on April 10, 2015.
Revision approved: August 2, 2016
Revised: January 23, 2018, April 9, 2018
Revised: September 16, 2020
Revised: July 21, 2021, October 26, 2021
Revision approved: June 16, 2024
Revision approved: March 30, 2026
Page last update: March 31, 2026