After the democratic revolutions in Egypt and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan forced Yale to recall approximately 80 students and faculty members traveling this spring, the University is refining the procedures it uses to monitor affiliates studying and researching abroad.
The University requires undergraduate students receiving Yale course credit or funding to go abroad to register their trips with the Center for International Experience, and this year that system enabled administrators to establish communication with Yalies stranded amid demonstrations in Egypt and panic in Japan in a matter of hours, said Don Filer, associate secretary for international affairs. Over the years, growing numbers of students have opted to travel outside of traditional destinations in Western Europe, a MEDEX official said. The inherent risk of studying and working in developing countries combined with this year’s emergencies have both Yale and its contracted travel services provider MEDEX working to keep more complete records of their charges abroad, Filer and MEDEX representatives said.
