Division of Business and Finance

Travel

Travel to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza

Effective immediately, all travel to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza requires Dean and Provost approval. Please obtain approval prior to requesting travel insurance coverage.

As of 1/2/2024, Brandeis’ Travel Insurance carrier, Zurich, is requiring all travelers to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza be pre-approved, prior to travel, in order to obtain coverage. For pre-approval, please answer the following questions and forward your answers to Bill Thomas, Risk and Insurance Manager at billthomas@brandeis.edu. Risk Management will forward your answers to Zurich. Once approved, the traveler will be covered under the Zurich Travel policy.

Where are you planning on going within Israel, the West Bank and Gaza? Please be as specific as possible and include city and hotel name(s).
What is the duration of travel? What are your trip dates or estimated trip dates?
What is the purpose of the travel? Please be as specific as possible.
What are the safety protocols that are in place for the travel? Please be as detailed as possible.
How many people will be traveling together at one time?
What means of transportation within Israel, the West Bank and Gaza will you use?
What limitations are in place for travel in terms of areas of travel, modes of travel, etc.

Please note: Zurich will assess additional insurance premiums for each approved traveler. If the traveler is a citizen of Israel, and does not maintain dual citizenship in another country, the Zurich travel insurance program excludes their potential extraction services.

Please provide at least 10 days for the pre-approval process.

Group Travel Assistance Program

Brandeis University provides worldwide group travel assistance through Zurich Insurance Company for faculty, staff and students who travel 100 miles or more from campus to study or conduct university business. The Zurich policy provides travelers with access to 24/7 travel assistance services provided by Zurich Travel Assist.

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Students

Students have access to a Student Travel Policy through Zurich. This policy uses On Call International for its Travel Assistance Provider. Prior to traveling, students should either download on their mobile device, or print out and carry the Student Travel ID Card with them at all times while traveling.

Students participating in study abroad programs should carefully read the required materials provided by the Office of Study Abroad. Graduate students should refer to their respective program coordinators. Note that Zurich Travel Insurance is not meant to replace health insurance while traveling. Check with your health insurance carrier to ensure your coverage extends internationally.

Faculty and Staff

Faculty and Staff have access to a Business Travel Insurance Policy through Zurich. This policy uses On Call International for its Travel Assistance Provider. Prior to traveling, faculty and staff should either download on their mobile device, or print out and carry the Business Travel ID Card with them at all times while traveling.

Travel Warning

Except as provided below, Brandeis University will not operate, pay for, supervise, direct or otherwise support a research program, course or program for any student (undergraduate, graduate, professional) in an area of a country where a U.S. Department of State travel warning is in effect.

Note: Undergraduate students who are participating in an approved Study Abroad program are exempt from these guidelines.

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Faculty, Staff and Graduate Students

An individual faculty member, staff member or graduate student whose professional activities (e.g., research, teaching at a foreign institution, attendance at a conference) necessitate travel to a portion of a country where a travel warning is in effect, and any of whose travel/research costs are paid from a university-administered account, may undertake such travel only after the following steps have been taken:

A description of the proposed professional activities has been filed with each program, department or school that is funding the trip, and each group has approved the trip in writing based on its feasibility and importance; additionally, the individual's department chair and dean have approved the trip in writing.
The faculty member, staff member or graduate student has signed an Assumption of Risk and Release Agreement (pdf) to the Department of Insurance and Risk Management indicating that he or she understands the risks involved in travel to this location and releases the university from any liability.
The faculty member, staff member or student has appropriate health insurance approved by the the Department of Insurance and Risk Management.
Evidence of compliance with steps 1-3, above, is on file with the Department of Insurance and Risk Management.

Undergraduate Students

All Brandeis University undergraduate students, except those participating in an approved study abroad program, are subject to the university undergraduate international travel policy and procedures, which require suspension of current and future educational activities in any country subject to the warning, but allows for a review and grant of permission to operate in certain circumstances. They must also submit an Assumption of Risk and Release Agreement (pdf) to the Department of Insurance and Risk Management.

Undergraduate study abroad participants planning to study in a country with a travel warning in effect must consult with the Office of Study Abroad before departing for their program.

Health Risk Assessment

Health risks are assessed using information from the Centers for Disease Control.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) uses three warning levels to evaluate travel:

Watch Level 1: Practice Usual Precautions
Watch Level 2: Practice Enhanced Precautions
Watch Level 3: Avoid Nonessential Travel

Important: In order to be covered for a medical evacuation, the faculty/staff/student needs to be injured or sick and not able to obtain appropriate medical care in his/her current location. Healthy travelers would not be covered by the medical evacuation benefits.