When Rice faculty, staff and students travel abroad for a conference, a research project or a credit-bearing program, a network of university offices stands ready to support them — provided those offices know the trip is happening. That caveat framed “Ready, Set, Global: Travel Safely & Securely,” a Global Insights panel Rice Global hosted Sept. 30 in the Welcome Center Presentation Room in Sewall Hall.
Meredith Bonner, executive director of Rice Global, moderated the lunchtime conversation with Eno Oregbesan, director of risk management; Paul Zukas, director of research security; and Juliana Crim, global travel safety manager. Together they covered Rice's travel accident insurance, research security requirements and the resources that keep travelers informed before departure and supported throughout their trips.
Much of that support depends on Policy 852, which requires registration in the Rice Travel Registry for all Rice-related international travel. The policy applies to faculty, staff, students and visitors whose trips outside the U.S. are funded in whole or in part by Rice, count toward a Rice degree, involve a Rice-sponsored group or represent the university.
Once a trip is registered, it is automatically enrolled with Crisis24, Rice's global travel assistance provider, which sends safety, health and travel alerts tailored to the traveler's destination. If a natural disaster, political unrest or other crisis strikes, registration lets Rice and Crisis24 reach travelers quickly to confirm their safety. Registration is also required for eligibility under Rice's travel accident insurance, and for international members of the Rice community, it creates a record the university can draw on if reentry into the U.S. becomes complicated.
Revisions to the policy in June 2025 added requirements for travel to certain destinations. Travelers to designated countries of concern who conduct or assist with federally funded research must complete pre- and post-travel counterintelligence briefings with the Office of Research Security and Export Controls and student travel to elevated risk locations requires approval through a formal exception process.
Personal travel falls outside the policy's requirements, though Rice strongly recommends registering those trips too so the university can check in if an emergency or a significant security shift affects a traveler's destination.
Travelers can register at travelregistry.rice.edu and guidance on Policy 852, elevated risk locations, Crisis24 and insurance is available at global.rice.edu/travel-resources. For questions, contact Rice Global at travelsafety@rice.edu.