All UMKC students hoping to participate in a Study Abroad program or university-related international travel — including students who have received approval from their academic departments — must submit an International Travel Policy Exception Request Form (PDF) to ITRAC. Review guidance for international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exception Requests

All UMKC undergraduate, graduate, professional and certificate programs students participating in any university-related international travel to a country or region under a U.S. Department of State travel advisory at level three or four or a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) travel level three or four warning must request an exception (PDF) from ITRAC at least eight weeks before departure.

In addition, students may be required to submit a request for permission to travel to locations or participate in programs that pose a specific health, safety or security concern as indicated by authorities other than the U.S. Department of State or CDC.

Documenting your exception request

The documentation in the International Travel Policy Exception Request (PDF) must be strongly linked to academic goals, and the concerns raised in the appeal must be adequately addressed and documented. In the absence of a compelling case and justification, it is unlikely that the committee will approve the request.

The UMKC senior internationalization officer will call a meeting of the ITRAC committee. In deciding whether to approve travel, the committee will consider these factors, as well as information from governmental sources, the university’s insurance carriers and other expert sources.

• The academic level, purpose and educational, research and professional development importance of the opportunity in relation to the students’ academic program
• Alternative program options
• The political, physical and travel conditions in the location and the ability to evacuate the area, if necessary
• The geographic location of the activity and its relation to the threat addressed by the travel advisory
• Steps taken to minimize the threat
• The level of risk to students’ health and safety
• Traveler experience, both in general and related to the specific location
• In cases where a university division is sponsoring an activity, the program leader in charge is responsible for ensuring all participants have obtained approval. The easiest way to do this is to apply for an exception for the program on behalf of all participants.

Exception decision notification

ITRAC will review requests and make recommendations to the senior internationalization officer of International Affairs. A decision regarding each request will be communicated by email to the applicant’s UMKC email address as soon as possible. The decision is final and cannot be appealed.

Approval only applies to the travelers and dates specifically listed in the official request.

If a proposal is approved, it is only approved under the conditions at the time of approval. If a new travel advisory or warning is issued, the proposal must be reconsidered. If the program is ongoing and the country or region remains under a U.S. Department of State or CDC travel advisory level three or four, the program must be re-approved each time an individual or group of students plans to participate.

The university will not authorize student travel to any country or region for which the U.S. Department of State has issued a mandatory evacuation order.

When the committee is considering a rejection of a travel application by a graduate student, the committee will engage the dean of the student’s college in the decision-making process.

ITRAC will not support travel that takes place without adhering to the requirements of this policy. Therefore, ITRAC will not retroactively approve any travel to a country or region under a U.S. Department of State travel advisory at level three or four or a CDC level three or four travel warning.