Eshelman School of Pharmacy: International Travel Policy

This policy establishes requirements and best practices for international travel by faculty, staff, and students affiliated with the UNC-Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy. It ensures compliance with U.S. laws, university regulations, and safeguards personal and institutional resources.

Unit Policy

Title

Eshelman School of Pharmacy: Policy on International Travel

Introduction

Purpose

This policy establishes requirements and best practices for international travel by faculty, staff, and students affiliated with the UNC-Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy (ESOP). It ensures compliance with U.S. laws, university regulations, and safeguards personal and institutional resources.

Scope

Applies to all ESOP-sponsored international travel, including:

• Educational programs
• Research activities
• Internships for credit
• Any travel affiliated with UNC-Chapel Hill sponsorship or academic/practicum credit

Policy

International travel must be properly planned and executed to:

• Comply with U.S. laws and UNC-Chapel Hill policies
• Protect University data and resources
• Promote safety and cultural respect

Requirements

Before departure, travelers must:

• Register with the UNC-Chapel Hill Global Travel Registry All itineraries must be recorded for emergency contact purposes. Note: Students on credit-bearing programs may be pre-registered through their program application. Faculty and staff should coordinate registration with their home department.
• Obtain UNC-Chapel Hill Travel Health Insurance Purchase BCBS Global Solutions coverage for health, evacuation, and repatriation as mandated by the UNC System Office.

Recommendations

Travelers are strongly encouraged to:

• Enroll in the U.S. State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for safety alerts and emergency contact.
• Review UNC-Chapel Hill Global Travel Guidance and U.S. Travel Advisories.
• Check destination-specific conditions via the U.S. State Department's https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-checklist.html.

Export Control Compliance

• Consult the UNC-Chapel Hill Export Controls Office before travel involving foreign collaborations or sanctioned countries.
• Restricted Destinations: Some countries are subject to comprehensive U.S. sanctions and require special export licenses before any travel, collaboration, or transfer of materials or technology. Travelers must consult the UNC-Chapel Hill Export Controls Office and review the current OFAC Comprehensive Sanctions Programs list before travel to any potentially sanctioned destination.
• Screen Entities: Use Visual Compliance to screen for restricted parties.
• Declare Items: Verify export classification for all equipment (laptops, devices, and scientific tools) prior to departure.

Technology and Data Security

Before travel:

• Meet with IET for device review and recommendations.
• Consider Loaner Devices for short-term travel use to minimize risk to institutional data.
• Enable VPN and Two-Step Authentication for secure access to UNC-Chapel Hill resources while abroad.
• Follow Best Practices for cybersecurity during travel. Refer to the following resources:
  • UNC-Chapel Hill Safe Computing
  • FCC Cybersecurity Tips for International Travelers
  • FBI Business Travel Tips Guide
  • https://www.cisa.gov/topics/cybersecurity-best-practices

Compliance and Enforcement

Failure to comply with this policy may result in:

• Loss of travel privileges
• Financial liability for non-compliant expenses
• Potential legal penalties for export control violations

Contact Information

• Travel Registry & Insurance: UNC-Chapel Hill Risk Management
• Export Controls: exportcontrol@unc.edu
• Technology Support: help.unc.edu