Safety Is Our First Concern
U.S. State Department Consular Information
Students are asked to read and comply with precautions and procedures set forth in U.S. State Department Consular Information regarding travel to, in, and around China. For a list of countries deemed as safe and those which are unsafe for travel please visit the U.S. State Department Consular Information site.
YEHS Safety Guidelines
YEHS places the highest priority on the safety and health of all students. YEHS safety and health policies are specifically tailored to location and current circumstances. They are also flexible to enable us to adapt quickly to change. We have an intricate and quick response system set in place for unknown crisis.
Maximizing Safety
YEHS staff members are well trained for any situation and rely on the following methods to decide whether a program may be offered and operated as planned:
- YEHS monitors U.S. Government advisories, considering both those issued by in-country embassies and consulates and by the State Department in Washington, D.C.
- In addition to its own Academic Directors and other in-country staff, YEHS relies on the considerable in-situ knowledge and analysis of local institutional colleagues with whom we generally have long and trusting relationships.
- YEHS consults with academic and nongovernmental organizations that are part of the worldwide network of learning..
- YEHS senior staff have collectively lived and worked for decades in the regions where our programs operate. These staff members are on call 24 hours a day.
The YEHS study abroad program model has at least two characteristics that have proven important over the years in minimizing safety risks in-country, including street crime, accidents, and exposure to political violence:
- During the initial orientation period -- a critical component of each YEHS study abroad program -- Academic Directors and others educate students about potential safety risks and how to minimize these risks. Our staff provides further orientation briefings and reminders at key junctures throughout the program, most notably at times of movement to a different program locale or during educational excursions.
- The home-stay component of our programs provides significant additional community perspectives on local issues. Home-stay family members can provide precautionary advice to our students about local conditions.
Total safety cannot, of course, be guaranteed abroad, just as it cannot be guaranteed in the United States. YEHS is committed to taking the necessary steps to maximize student safety at each and every program site.
Fortunately, Yunnan is a very safe place with a year-round mild climate. We have established for enrolled students an emergency contact list. There will be group meetings during the first few days to acclimate students to the new environment and to inform students of YEHS guidelines and for the class to become acquainted with the city and hospital infrastructure.
