In An Emergency

Study Abroad & Global Engagement (SAGE) prioritizes students going abroad in a healthy and safe way. Below is a list of contact information for students abroad in case of an emergency.

AIG Global Assistance Services

001 715-346-0859  (24/7)

Call AIG Travel Guard Global Assistance Services as soon as possible in an emergency situation. AIG can assist with arranging medical transportation and care, monitoring your condition following a medical issue, initiating a medical or security evacuation if appropriate, and provide advice relating to your health, safety, security, lost documents, or need for legal assistance. 

  • Dial the international access code for the U.S. (usually 001).
  • Then dial 715-346-0859 (call collect if not utilizing Wi-Fi calling).
  • Identify yourself as University of Kansas study abroad student.
  • AIG Travel Guard works closely with Study Abroad & Global Engagement to notify us of any issues requiring the coordination of KU support.

Telus Health Student Support

Through Telus Health Student Support (THSS) all KU students have 24/7 access to multilingual mental health and wellbeing support provided by a licensed clinician by phone or chat. THSS also offers an on-demand content library covering a variety of health and wellbeing topics and virtual fitness classes.

KU Study Abroad 24/7 International Emergency Lines

The KU Study Abroad Emergency Lines are staffed by SAGE personnel. 

Evaluating Incidents

If you are experiencing an emergency with immediate threat to your health or safety, take the following steps:

  • Contact local emergency services (.pdf)
  • Contact your on-site coordinator or program director for immediate instructions.
  • Contact AIG for additional assistance and to open a case file:  001 715-346-0859
  • Contact KU Study Abroad to report your situation and receive additional instructions (see contact details above).

Travel delays, lost luggage/passport/wallet, minor illnesses, and other situations that do not immediately impact your health and safety are generally not considered emergencies. If you encounter one of these situations, take the following steps:

  • Contact your on-site contact, host institution, or program director for support.
  • Contact KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement by phone or email during business hours to notify us of your status, request assistance, or discuss next steps.  The KU Study Abroad 24/7 International Emergency Lines should not be used to report or seek assistance for non-urgent incidents.

The Study Abroad & Global Engagement office may contact your designated emergency contact person(s) in the event that you:

  • are unable to speak for yourself or are not responding to urgent inquiries.
  • are perceived to be a danger to yourself or to others.
  • are in a location where there has been a significant health, safety, or security incident and we haven't been able to contact you.

AlertTraveler

All student travelers are required to download the AlertTraveler App to the mobile device they will be taking with them on their study abroad experience.  AlertTraveler is a pro-active risk management tool that provides you with:

  • Country and city resources and intelligence information to enable you to make informed decisions while abroad;
  • Real-time safety and security alerts, based on your itinerary or geographic location, to let you know of any event that could potentially affect your travel, personal health, or safety;
  • Single touch dialing to emergency services in-country, U.S. embassies or consulates in the region, and the Study Abroad & Global Engagement emergency lines; and
  • An instant check-in feature allowing you to seek assistance or report your well-being back to Study Abroad & Global Engagement in the event of an incident.

Download instructions are available in your JayhawksAbroad online portal.  A demonstration of the app and its various features can be viewed through the AlertTraveler informational video. 

You will have access to download the app to your mobile device 60 days in advance of your departure.  By subscribing to alerts for your destination country in advance of your time abroad, you can best prepare for your international travel.

Should a significant incident occur while you are studying abroad, KU Study Abroad and Global Engagement will contact you immediately to ascertain your welfare and provide information, instructions, and advice. Contact will be via the AlertTraveler app safety check feature, email, phone/text, and/or social media. We ask that you respond immediately to all safety checks and other forms of communication.

Additional Resources