Health and Safety

Hamline does not have a travel clinic on campus, but Counseling and Wellness Services are able to discuss some travel matters when it comes to medicines and mental health plans.

Students should make an appointment at a Travel Clinic. The GEC also recommends checking with your regular doctor before any travel to get updates on more routine vaccinations and discuss services while away.

The Minnesota Department of Health (health.state.mn.us) has provided a document with a list of most travel clinics in the area. You can also visit the Center for Disease Control (cdc.gov) and World Health Organizations (who.int) websites to see what vaccines you need.

It is always a good idea to consult with your doctor before going abroad. Hamline University also strongly recommends that all students going abroad complete a travel medicine consultation prior to departure. 

To schedule a consultation, Hamline has a partnership with the Health Partners Travel Clinic; Health Partners has two sites with travel specialties in the metro area, including one just off of Phalen Boulevard in Saint Paul and one in St. Louis Park. The telephone number to make an appointment at Health Partners location is 952-967-7978.

Though Health Partners is recommended for travel medicine consultation, students may also visit an International Travel Health Facility approved by the State of Minnesota. The Ramsey County Department of Public Health also provides travel consultations.

Check the Centers for Disease Control (cdc.gov) and the US Department of State’s website (travel.state.gov) for official recommendations on vaccines and health related tips for international travel.

If you need to bring prescription medicine into another country, please plan ahead and work with your local doctor and insurance company. 

• Check country laws and limits on prescription drugs

• Obtain dose and prescription information from your doctor in a signed letter—keep the medications in their original bottles

• Check with your program official or the GEC if you need special accommodations or assistance with your prescriptions

• Always have your medications and related documents in your carry on bag

Hamline provides coverage for all students going international through Educational & Institutional Insurance Administrators (EIIA); students will need to maintain their domestic health insurance while abroad.

This insurance should be considered emergency insurance; it will not cover routine medical/dental procedures. There is a $250 deductible for any services rendered; that means that students will be responsible for the first $250 worth of charges at a doctor’s office or clinic, and the insurance company will be responsible for charges covered under the policy after that.

However, unless contact is made with the insurance company, who can refer a doctor that will accept the insurance up front and start a case number with the insurance company before entering the clinic/hospital, the hospital bill may need to be paid out of pocket, and then a claim for reimbursement from the insurance company must be submitted.

Except in the case of severe emergency, students should contact the Hamline International and Off-Campus Programs Office before seeking medical attention. In the case of severe emergency, students should seek attention immediately and contact the office when able.

It is also important to note that this insurance will cover the foreign hospital bills and the evacuation from the host country for students who fall ill and need to return home during the course of an international program, but that coverage will switch over to the student’s primary insurance upon arrival in the United States. The insurance also covers repatriation.

Depending on your program, especially for non-Hamline-built ones, you may also have the program’s required insurance. Please contact your program for more details.

Travel insurance: When purchasing airfare for your program, most airlines offer “Trip Interruption” and additional emergency insurance. These are provided by insurance companies and vary in coverage and cost. The GEC does recommend purchasing some kind of insurance for your flights. It is not mandatory, but could help you change a flight date more easily than without it.

We recommend downloading GardaWorld App before you travel to view detailed reports on the destination country. You will also receive real-time alerts on critical events worldwide.

After downloading the app, use your Hamline email address and the following corporate contract number (16812020) to create an account.

Things can happen anywhere- being away can add to the situation, so remember this chain of communication if an emergency happens:

• Assess emergency: Secure your safety

• Contact program staff or Hamline colleague/faculty

• Call GEC

• Call your family or loved ones

Medical emergencies

If not life threatening, use Hamline insurance to set up hospital visit (GEC can assist with this). If life threatening, call emergency number and go to closest hospital.

Health and safety emergencies

Always contact program staff/GEC staff and follow their directions with next steps.

Have important program contact numbers with you at all times!

Public Safety: 651-523-2100

"I'm a Hamline student studying away and I need assistance with..."

Make sure to provide as much information as possible to support staff in the event of an emergency.

Things like:

• Your name

• Return contact information

• Country and program of study

• Student(s) names

• Date and time of occurrence/condition

• Description of occurrence/condition

• Action taken thus far

• Action requested of Officer (if appropriate)

Other resources while abroad

• US Embassy (usembassy.gov)

• Hamline Counseling and Health Services

• Different countries have different norms when it comes to flirting, dating, and sexual encounters. Please exercise caution when engaging in any relationships abroad. Condoms and contraceptives may not be available in all areas, and the definition of consent can also be more complex.
  
  

• Be clear and assertive with your consent or non-consent. Sexual assault is any sexual activity that is lacking consent.
  If you experience anything that is against your consent, there are resources for you to utilize. 

• Know that you are not to blame and that seeking help from your program’s staff will be the first and best method for getting justice in your location.
  
  

• Get to know the Title IX resources at Hamline and for more information about Health and Safety, see the Student Handbook.

You are subject to Hamline’s Alcohol and Illegal Drug Use Policy while participating in a study away or study abroad program.

Alcohol

• Enjoy your time abroad, but do so responsibly. Follow all country rules, as well as Hamline’s and the program’s.

• Know your limits and always watch your drinks. Some drinks can have a different potency in other countries. Public drunkenness might not be acceptable, and get you into a lot of trouble with locals.

• Remember: Most accidents and crimes occur abroad while the individual was intoxicated. Don’t be that person!

• “Nothing good ever happens alone after 2 a.m.; just go to bed!”

Drugs

• Do not do illegal drugs

• Do not cross borders with drugs that are legal in one country and not the other

Being foreign is not an excuse, and consequences can be severe.

Be aware of yourself and your surroundings. This doesn’t mean be on guard at all times, but take a moment when going to new locations to ensure you have all your belongings, have your emergency contacts on you, and know when and where you are expected to be next.

Information to know

• 911 equivalent (travel.state.gov) and how to use local phones (dial out numbers)

• Local laws you're likely to encounter

• Clothing norms

As much as possible, go in groups when adventuring around town and especially if you go out at night! And share your travel plans with others—this can be other students, staff, or family back at home.

Hamline’s Student Code of Conduct still applies while on your program! Make sure to follow these rules and those of your host location. All infractions will be reported to Hamline University, and student can be expelled from the program and/or face consequences back home.