Health & Safety

At CEA Global Education we strive to make every student's study abroad experience as meaningful as possible. This means that their safety and health is a key priority.

Safety Overview

Current world conditions dictate that safety concerns are in the forefront of the minds of students, parents and advisors as well as CEA employees. At CEA our primary priority is our students’ and staff's safety and well-being. This concern for safety is a critical factor when developing programs, from choosing program sites, to planning and implementation. While CEA cannot guarantee the absolute safety of any program participant, we have implemented safety protocols and established emergency response procedures in all of our international locations, as well as our U.S. Headquarters.

In order to facilitate safe programs, we have established the following:

• Constant communication between International and U.S. staff
• A Health and Safety Committee
• Regular attention to the CEA Emergency Plan
• Membership with NAFSA: The Association for International Educators
• Allows us to communicate with our peers in the study abroad field
• Keeps us up to date with health and safety standards and practices in the industry
• Continuous monitoring of guidelines set by the U.S. Department of State regarding U.S. citizens overseas
• Multiple outlets for providing students with health and safety knowledge
• General information prior to departure
• Detailed, city specific information upon arrival
• Staff committed to addressing concerns at any juncture
• An Emergency Contact System
• We encourage parents to talk to their son or daughter about designating them as their Emergency Contact

Health Overview

Mental and physical health is essential to student well-being. As such, CEA places student health considerations at the forefront of its priorities while developing programs.

Insurance

CEA requires students to purchase a mandatory medical insurance plan while abroad. The cost is supplemental to the program price and differs dependent on program length.

Medical Facilities Abroad

During orientation, international staff will provide students with all medical facility contact information. Resident directors will ensure that the students have access to quality medical care. They will aid the students in making arrangements with doctors and, when necessary, accompany them to appointments. Where available, resident directors also will make students aware of English-speaking doctors.

Mental Health

Studying abroad will not fix any problems that students are having at home or at school. Students will not be able to escape their issues; they may even be amplified. When going into a new situation in a new country, students are likely to experience culture shock. Without their friends and family from home, students often suffer from an initial feeling of isolation that will fade with time.

Students with a past history of depression should make sure to note it on their medical questionnaire. International staff, if aware of the student’s history, can help alleviate some of the student’s concerns and provide local counselor information - including English-speaking counselors, if available.

Disabled Students

Often, countries outside the U.S. do not have the legislation and infrastructure to accommodate disabled individuals in the way they are aided in the United States. Disabled students should investigate the conditions of their prospective host countries prior to applying for a program. Check out the Mobility International website for additional information.

Students should be aware that in some situations there will be additional charges incurred for handicap accessible housing. They also should note that CEA has limited staff abroad and cannot guarantee that all activities and excursions will be handicap accessible.

Medications

Students who are on regularly prescribed medications should visit their physician prior to departure. Some medications that are commonly prescribed in the United States are not as frequently given to patients elsewhere. To ensure that you will have no problem entering the country with your medication, you should have either a copy of your prescription or a doctor’s note. You also should know the generic name of your medication.

We recommend bringing enough medication to last your program’s duration. If this is not possible, international staff will provide you with pharmacy locations or help to find you a doctor in your host country.