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Student Travel to Northern Japan Restricted

Duke takes action after earthquake, tsunami

In the aftermath of Friday's earthquake and tsunami in Japan and in light of damages sustained by several nuclear power stations in the country, the Duke International Travel Oversight Committee voted March 13 to restrict travel to northern portions of Honshu, the main island of Japan. The restriction applies to the entire Tohuku region, including the Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures.

The restriction means that undergraduates cannot travel to these areas of Japan for trips using Duke funds or for Duke credit unless they receive a waiver of this travel restriction from the committee. Undergraduates who do successfully petition for a waiver of the travel restriction are required to register their travel and remit a signed High Risk Travel Waiver/Release Form.

Graduate and professional students wishing to travel to the restricted regions of Japan (as part of a university sponsored or funded trip) are required to register their travel with Duke's international travel registry and remit a signed High Risk Travel Waiver/Release Form..

Faculty and staff planning to travel to Japan are strongly encouraged to submit their itineraries to the international travel registry.

All travelers are asked to familiarize themselves with the coverage provided by International SOS and to print and carry a Duke-ISOS membership card while traveling. More information and a downloadable ID card are available from the International SOS web site.

The International Travel Oversight Committee will continue to monitor developments in Japan and review the restrictions on an ongoing basis.For more information, view the Duke International Travel Policy or contact Christy Parrish Michels via email at Christy.parrish@duke.edu or telephone at 684.2910.