With the situation in Egypt uncertain amid clashes Wednesday between protesters and pro-government demonstrators, the Duke International Oversight Committee voted Feb. 1 to restrict student travel to Egypt.
Duke officials said the committee will continue to monitor the situation in Egypt, seeking guidance from our travel insurance provider and in consideration of various governmental warnings and advisories. This restriction will be reviewed on Feb. 28 and if a change is warranted it will be modified at that time.
The restriction to Egypt means that undergraduates can not go to this region using Duke funds or for Duke credit unless they get the committee's approval for the trip. A petition to waive this restriction would be necessary for any undergraduate wishing to travel there.
The restriction also means that Graduate and Professional students must register their travel if going to Egypt and remit a signed High Risk Travel/Waiver release form acknowledging Duke University advises against travel to Egypt and that they are aware of the safety risk in traveling to this area of the world.
"Like others on campus, we are watching events unfold via news and social networking sites," said Christy Michels, Duke international travel policy administrator. "Given the difficulties that Duke travelers experienced when trying to leave Egypt over the last four or five days, we were forced to look at our ability to assist future travelers to the country. We are unsure of our ability to aid them once they are there and felt a restriction was in order for the time being."
The Department of State is currently recommending that Americans not travel to Egypt. More information on Duke's Travel Policy can be found at http://international.duke.edu/index.php. The International SOS website has updated information about travel advisories around the world.