​Tracking Incidents of Significant Risk to Students: A Proposal

Background: Phase I of the Student Risk Task Force was convened to help identify a way to collect and compile data about the significant incidents* that happen to students on their organization’s programs using a common framework so that the data can be reported publicly to education abroad stakeholders and be used to make informed decisions and build in risk mitigations where possible. Their initial proposal was available for public comment from all interested stakeholders from March 24-April 30, 2023. The Task Force is now considering those comments and refining the proposal, to be shared with the field once again in June 2023.

Looking Ahead: This proposal represents Phase I of a two-phase process related to incident tracking and reporting, aimed at proposing a plan for education abroad/program provider organizations. Phase II, to consider additional factors and develop a complementary proposal for colleges and universities, will begin after Phase I is complete.

*See clause 5.1.7 of the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad. 

Read the Proposal

​MEET THE 2022 STUDENT RISK TASK FORCE

Members:
Bill Bull, CIEE
Amelia Dietrich, The Forum on Education Abroad
Jennifer Fullick, IFSA-Butler
Eryn Kudzinski, CEA / CAPA
Marissa Lombardi, The Forum on Education Abroad
Robin Reliford, WorldStrides
Vanessa Sterling, CET Academic Programs
Stacey Tsantir, DIS Abroad
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Supporters:
Hannah Leidich, Arcadia University College of Global Studies
Carolyn Lutes, API Abroad

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Comparing College Student Mortality Rates in the U.S. with Mortality Rates while Abroad

This 7-year expansion of The Forum's 2017 investigation of critical incidents using insurance claims data finds that students are less likely to die during participation in education abroad than when they are studying on domestic campuses.
Read the Report

Stephen E. Erfle & Amelia J. Dietrich (2020) College student mortality on U.S. campuses compared with rates while abroad,
Journal of American College Health, 68:8, 900-905, DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2019.1634078

Insurance Claims Data and Mortality Rate for College Students Studying Abroad

This Report provides for the first time information on the mortality rate for U.S. students studying abroad with a comparison to students studying on campuses in the U.S. The key finding of the Report is that college students studying abroad are less likely to die than college students studying on campuses in the U.S. The Report is beneficial to The Forum membership and the field by providing a context by which we can understand the relatively rare occurrence of the death of a student abroad. 
Read the 2017 Report

Critical Incident Database

The Critical Incident Database (CID) was a tool for Forum members to use to track critical incidents occurring while their students are abroad. It also served as a method for tracking required information on incidents that should be reported for a member’s Annual Security Report as required by the Department of Education in compliance with the Clery Act. The tool is being retired in 2023 and a proposal for a new approach to incident tracking and field-wide reporting to replace the CID is underway.
2019 Report: Education Abroad Critical Incidents
Report of 2014 CID Data
Preliminary Report: Incident Database Pilot Project
​Evaluation: Incident Database Pilot Project