About The Human Factor

“Careful participant selection,” including faculty, staff, subcontractors, and students, is the first recommendation of the United Educators Insurance Risk Retention Group in their series on Managing Liability for proactively managing risks in study abroad programs. (p.8) Administrators may decide to review police records, student conduct reports, driving records, etc. in the attempt to ensure that the participants have the necessary skills, experience, and maturity for the program. A credit check may be in order for staff if they will have access to program funds. Students should be encouraged to include information about participation in drug or alcohol counseling or groups such as AA in their medical background.

Administrators must also consider policies and procedures for dealing with violations of conduct codes while overseas taking into account “the skeleton staff, reduced level of resources, and the locality’s cultural differences.” (United Educators Insurance Risk Retention Group in their series on Managing Liability, p.9)

• SAFETI Adaptation of Peace Corps Document: Crisis Management Handbook
• Center Safety and Security Checklist

• Working & Hiring Globally
• Hiring Abroad Toolkit
• Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad, 5th ed. (2015), Standard 8: Health, Safety, Security, and Risk Management
• Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad, 5th ed. (2015), 5. Student Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Measures
• Hiring Local Employees Abroad
• Hiring Independent Contractors Abroad
• 5 Tips for International Background Screening
• Background checking and job applicant testing outside the US: a guide to multinational pre-hire screening
• Hiring From Abroad? What You Need to Know About Cross-Border Background Checks
• US State Department: Emergency Services to U.S. Citizens Abroad