• Student safety is Trinity’s highest priority. Trinity has an International Emergency Response Team on campus dedicated to addressing health, safety, and risk management issues abroad from a preparation and prevention approach to reduce risks. 

• The Office of Study Away and all Approved External Programs (AEPs) monitor both U.S. and foreign government advisories, considering those issued both by in-country embassies and consulates and by the State Department in Washington, D.C. 

• Each Approved External Program (AEP) has been vetted by Trinity’s International Emergency Response Team for health and safety. Each approved program has an emergency response plan which students will be told about when they arrive at the program. It is important to pay close attention to all information provided by the program staff during on-site orientation, especially all health and safety information. 

In the event of an emergency the first contact should always be with the program staff on-site and/or your international medical insurance. 

Trinity College is also available 24/7 in the event of an emergency but should not be your first point of contact.

Trinity College, Hartford, CT

• Trinity College Campus Safety (24/7 Phone) - 860-297-2222 

• Trinity OSA Main Line (during office hours only) - 860-297-2005

• By the time you read this you will probably have heard it several times, but you must be vigilant of your phone, wallet and other essentials while you are out in public. If you are eating lunch or dinner out, for example, you should not leave your valuables out on the table somewhere you can not see them. All it takes is a few moments of distraction and things that were in front of you can disappear. This also goes for holding valuables in your back pockets or handbags while in a crowded area. 

• Individuals who pick-pocket know exactly what they are doing and can get your wallet out of your back pack or purse if its not secure. In order to prevent this, make sure to keep your items securely on you, where you can see them and if it can be helped, locked. This is entirely precautionary because it is not guaranteed that someone will try to grab your phone while you are not looking but it is always better to be safe rather than sorry. 

• Most importantly, at all times, look out for each other, and never leave your friends alone, particularly at night, and especially if the person is intoxicated. Also, do not stay out at night when your friends have all decided to head back home. Your best form of safety while abroad is to help each other make good decisions. 

When in Public:

• Be aware of your surroundings and your belongings at all times. 

• Try to fit in and to dress like the locals as much as possible.

• Travel with a companion at night and stay in populated, well-lit areas. 

• Avoid arguments and confrontations, and avoid demonstrations, especially in politically volatile countries. 

• Act conservatively and keep a low profile. 

• Always watch when bartenders are pouring your drink and never leave your drink alone. 

• Men – If you carry a wallet, carry it in your front pocket. 

• Women – Make sure your purse has a zipper and you carry it across your shoulder/chest. 

While Traveling:

• Be careful when riding in vehicles and always wear a safety belt. 

• On buses and trains, put your arm through the strap of your bags. If you decide to sleep on public transportation, make sure your bag is secure.

Hotels & Hostels:

• If staying in a youth hostel, try to carry your valuables with you if there is not a safe. Lock your suitcase and, if possible, strap it to your bed when you go out. You may want to sleep with your valuables under your pillow. 

• Do not leave your valuables in your hotel room. Use a safe, safety deposit box or consider storing some items in a locker at a train station or airport. 

• Trinity College prohibits sexual discrimination and harassment, including rape, sexual assault, and all other forms of sexual misconduct. In addition, the College prohibits intimate partner violence, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, retaliation, and other forms of prohibited conduct, as defined in the Policy on Sexual Misconduct. 

• The term “sexual misconduct” includes all of the preceding categories and all forms of non-consensual sexual contact prohibited by state and federal law. The College takes allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and has established procedures for the reporting and prompt, fair, and impartial adjudication of sexual misconduct complaints, from the initial investigation to the final result. The Policy on Sexual Misconduct applies to all members of the Trinity College Community whether on campus or away.

• Please note, for Study Away Programs, the Policy on Sexual Misconduct is applicable in addition to the law of the jurisdiction governing a particular program. 

• While Title IX is a U.S. federal law that does not extend to other countries, Trinity is committed to assisting and supporting students abroad who are victims of sexual harassment and misconduct. Students participating in all study abroad programs have access to all Title IX contacts and resources in Hartford as well any resources available abroad. 

Contact information for immediate assistance can be found on our Contact Information Page 

In Host Country:

The in-country program Director is the best resource for immediate assistance. 

Trinity College, Hartford, CT:

Shannon Lynch

Title IX Coordinator

(860) 308-4475

titleixcoordinator@trincoll.edu  

Jessica Brown

Deputy Title IX Coordinator 

jessica.brown@trincoll.edu

For further information, please see The Policy on Sexual Misconduct or Trinity College's Title IX Page

Message from Dean Lukaskiewicz

Know and understand the local laws of your host country. Not knowing is not an excuse.

If you are arrested there is very little Trinity College, your program and the U.S. Embassy can do to help you.

You are required to comply with all policies and procedures of your program, including program-specific ground rules and codes of conduct introduced during the orientation portion of the program. Your behavior must be above reproach at all times. You must take into consideration an accurate perception of the values and norms of the host communities, and the well being of fellow group members and program staff, and act accordingly. 

The Office of Study Away and the program have the authority to discontinue your participation on the program if your conduct is determined to be unacceptable. 

Prohibited Conduct: 

1. Violation of safety practices or action or inaction that might cause injury or death to oneself and any other person.

2. Sexual or other harassment of any kind.

3. Sexual or assault of any kind.

4. Creating excessive noise, disturbing the peace, violating individual rights or privacy, or disrupting lawful activities of others.

5. Deliberately or carelessly damaging or stealing property of the program or the host community.

6. Theft or unauthorized use of property from any other person or entity.

7. Unauthorized entry or use of program facilities, including host facilities such as host universities, hotels, or offices of program staff and contacts.

8. Possession or use, including the threat of use, of a weapon or other hazardous materials, such as, but not limited to, a firearm, knife, explosive, or other object that could be considered a weapon while on the program.

9. Violation of host country or US laws, including, but not limited to, those that relate to the use of alcohol and controlled substances on the program. Violation of local laws may result in fines, punishment, imprisonment, or deportation in addition to punitive actions by Trinity College.

10. Failure to comply with the reasonable directions of program employees acting in the performance of their duties.

11. Any conduct which jeopardizes Trinity’s and the Approved External Programs ability to maintain positive relations in host communities or to continue to carry out its programs, including but not limited to culturally inappropriate behavior or defamatory statements regarding host families, organizations, communities, or countries.

12. Any behavior that disrupts the learning environment, limits the participation of fellow students on the program or restricts access in any way to the curriculum, program activities and/or the group.

13. Excessive use or abuse of alcohol.

14. Possession or use of illegal drugs or substances. 

Code of Conduct and Behavior Policies at Trinity College follow you abroad.

• • While there does exist some latitude for individual choice regarding the personal use of alcohol, this freedom of choice exists within certain guidelines. You are required to obey all applicable laws regarding the possession, use, and distribution of alcohol, comply with Trinity’s alcohol and other drug policies, and take full responsibility for your conduct. This includes respect for individual and collective rights and property.

  • Behavior which threatens to create disorder, public disturbance, damage to oneself or to others, or that otherwise interferes with the proper functioning of the program will not be tolerated. 

  • Trinity College expressly prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession, or use of any controlled substance by students. Convincing indication of drug use requires immediate dismissal from from the study away program. 

  • Use of alcohol will be shaped by local laws, cultural norms, individual program regulations, and safety considerations. The on-site director will set guidelines and rules for alcohol consumption, in relation to local cultural norms and program standards. Trinity reserves the right to prohibit alcohol use on any of its programs at any time. Excessive alcohol use and/or alcohol abuse is not permitted and will result in disciplinary action. 

Students are prohibited from engaging in certain activities for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to: potentially dangerous consequences for the individual(s) concerned; potential disruption of the study abroad program as a whole; non-insurability; or U.S. State Department or other authoritative warnings. Participation in these activities is not permitted and is grounds for dismissal. These include, but are not limited to: motorcycling, hitchhiking, driving, parachuting, bungee jumping, branding, hang-gliding, surfing, riding in private airplanes, rock climbing, white water rafting, and scuba diving.

Failure to Comply & Probation

When Trinity determines that a student has violated college and program ethics, the student will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the program.

A student may be placed on academic probation, and will be notified of such in writing if they:

• Are continuously absent at program activities

• Repeatedly fall asleep in class or are repeatedly late

• Are repeatedly rude and/or show a lack of consideration to the academic director, other students, program lecturers or other program-related personnel, homestay families, host nationals, or others.

• Repeatedly engage in behavior which is, in the opinion of the academic director and/or program-related personnel, culturally insensitive and/or inappropriate

• Engage in behavior which endangers the academic director, other students, themselves, and/or host nationals, including, but not limited to, a repeated refusal to act to address physical, behavioral, or mental health problems

• Commit a further transgression of a norm about which a warning was previously issued

• Have received a letter of warning from the academic director indicating that the student is failing to work up to the standards or within the spirit of the program

• Have received an incomplete and have not satisfactorily outlined a course of action to meet any outstanding course requirements

• Have failed 33% or more of course requirements. A student who is placed on academic probation is required to discuss their academic status with the academic director and make a plan for regaining satisfactory status.

For safety reasons, you are required to live in housing provided by the study away program. You may not find your own housing, even if that is an option through the program.