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Travel by AU faculty and staff is an important component of our educational and research mission. In support of our health and safety efforts during the pandemic, we suspended all university sponsored domestic and international travel. As COVID-19 conditions continue to improve, and we move towards the return to in-person learning and workplace operations, we will implement an interim process for travel requests that will remain in place until December 31, 2021.

While the AU travel moratorium will continue through August 14, 2021, essential travel will be considered for approval to ensure continuity of our research and educational activities. The interim approval process will enable university leaders and our health and safety team to review travel requests and make informed decisions regarding the risks posed by travel, particularly to destinations which may not be safe due to local COVID-19 conditions and other safety issues.

To initiate the review process for university sponsored travel, faculty or staff members will submit requests for essential travel at least two (2) weeks in advance of the trip departure date. Requests can be submitted using the appropriate form found on the COVID-19 Resources web page and will include information such as reason for travel, funding sources, trip logistics, and other health and safety travel issues.

Once a travel request is submitted, the Office of Global Safety will review the information and provide a health and safety assessment to the sponsoring school/department/unit. Each school/department/unit has identified a leadership team member as the final approver who will approve or deny the travel request. The traveling faculty or staff member will be notified by email of the result of the travel request.

Additional details about the travel requests can be found in the Travel FAQ on the COVID-19 Resources web page. Please note that additional time may be needed for international travel requests. All authorized business-related, sponsored, or funded travel must comply with appropriate AU policies.

University authorized, sponsored, or funded travel includes study abroad programs, timely or critically needed faculty and graduate level research and grant-related travel, participation in dual degree programs, travel for NCAA sanctioned athletic competitions, admissions and recruitment activities, and individual staff travel required to carry out critical functions related to the AU mission.

AU authorized or sponsored travel within the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region is not applicable to the travel approval process. Additionally, personal travel plans not related to or sponsored by AU are also excluded from this process.

The interim travel process is another important step in our increased activities. Policies and processes for authorized, sponsored, and funded AU travel for beyond the fall 2021 semester will be announced later in the year. Additionally, study abroad-related travel is being coordinated separately by our Study Abroad team.

Questions regarding the interim travel process can be emailed to the Office of Global Safety at globalsafety@american.edu.

Thank you for your support of these important procedures that will help keep our community safe and advance our mission.