For purposes of this policy, "Travel Warning" means the U.S. Department of State's strongest advisory that is issued when the Department, based on all relevant information, decides to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country.

The Institute recognizes that compelling academic reasons for travel to a particular country may exist and strongly supports international travel by cadets. At the same time, the Institute recognizes that there are times and certain places within a country under Travel Warning where cadet security and safety may outweigh the advantages of exposure to international experiences. Therefore, VMI does not permit students, faculty, or staff to travel to or through countries on the US Department of State Travel Warning List when on VMI sponsored international travel unless the cadet, staff member or faculty member has received specific approval from the Office of International Programs after completion of the petition procedures described below. The Institute will review all petitions for VMI sponsored and/or funded travel to any country under a Department of State Travel Warning on a case-by-case basis. Such review applies to VMI sponsored travel with or without faculty of staff leadership, programs sponsored by other universities or entities, or individual cadet travel deemed to be under VMI sponsorship.

When the Department of State issues a travel warning for a particular country, the Institute will suspend approval of, and terminate all ongoing study abroad by cadets of any nationality in that country during the period of time that such travel is in effect unless an exception is granted in accordance with these procedures after submission of a complete petition for approval. Approval is fully within the discretion of the Travel Warning Review Committee and decisions may be
reversed if the political climate or security situation changes after approval was initially granted.

Any cadets traveling individually or studying on programs sponsored by other universities who seek to travel to a country under a Travel Warning must also complete and submit the "Petition for Approval of Travel to Countries under U.S. Department of State Travel Warning".

• All petitions will be reviewed by the Travel Warning Review Committee, which shall be comprised of the Director of International Programs, the Chairperson of the International Programs Committee, the Director of Risk Management, and the Deputy Superintendent for Academics and Dean of the Faculty, in consultation with VMI counsel.
• The Travel Warning Review Committee will review the proposal for completeness and will make a recommendation based on the following factors. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Superintendent for final approval/denial of the request.
  • The specific details of the Travel Warning as it relates to the proposed
  • travel;
  • The information contained in the letters submitted as part of the petition for approval;
  • The petitioner's proposed preparations to respond to security concerns and
  • evacuation plans;
  • The petitioner's communication plan;
  • Any recommendations and warnings provided to the committee by internal or external experts;
  • The academic benefit to be gained from such travel and available alternative travel to countries not under Travel Warning; and
  • The committee's assessment of risk mitigation versus benefit to the Institute and the petitioner.
• If the petition is denied, all elements of Institute sponsorship shall be withheld and any cadets involved in the proposed travel will be instructed not to conduct travel to that country.
• If the petition is approved, all participants will be required to sign the "Agreement and Release for Travel to Countries under a State Department Travel Warning"  in addition to VMI's Study Abroad Program Agreement and Release.