Guidelines & Policies

Program Policies

Alcohol

Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the greatest risk factors when traveling with students. It is essential for program leaders to set clear expectations before departure. Below are guidelines for responsible drinking:

• Acknowledge that students may consume alcohol, but remind them that UT Tyler’s student conduct policies apply while they are abroad. Encourage them to take responsibility for their actions.
• Discuss host country norms related to alcohol consumption.
• Do not ignore signs of excessive drinking—address concerns with the student immediately.
• Inform students about risky behaviors, areas to avoid, and general safety precautions.
• Do not provide alcohol to students under 21 at any program-sponsored event, regardless of local legal drinking age.
• To maintain professionalism and minimize risk, avoid consuming alcohol at program-sponsored events. Do not drink around students, and set clear expectations that they should not drink around you.

Who Can Accompany a UT Tyler Faculty Member on a Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program?

We understand that program leaders may wish to bring a spouse and/or young children on a study abroad program. While this may be possible, it is important to recognize that UT Tyler study abroad programs are academic in nature and are not designed to accommodate individuals who are not enrolled in the associated course or program. As such, accompanying spouses, partners, or children generally should not participate in classroom or academic activities (including attending class sessions or engaging in academic discussions) or join program field trips and excursions. Their presence must not interfere with the academic integrity of the program, impact its overall quality, or introduce additional risk management concerns or liabilities for the university.

Spouse or Partner 

A spouse or partner may accompany the program leader for part or all of the program, provided their presence does not interfere with the leader’s responsibilities or affect the experience of participating UT Tyler students. The term partner refers to the spouse or domestic partner of a program leader, including unmarried domestic partners. Under no circumstances should students or the program incur any financial burden or disadvantage due to the spouse or partner’s presence.

If the program leader’s spouse or partner is serving as the caretaker for accompanying children or legal dependents, they must prioritize their caregiving role.

For liability and course credentialing purposes, spouses or partners who are not employed by UT Tyler may not take on any academic or administrative responsibilities within the program, such as taking attendance, proctoring exams, or managing finances.

Extended Family Members and Personal Acquaintances

Extended family members include relatives other than the program leader’s spouse, partner, or immediate children. Grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and in-laws who are not the program leader’s legal dependents should not participate unless they are officially enrolled as study abroad students in the university program.

Personal acquaintances are individuals who have no official connection to the program and are not related to the program leader. However, in some cases, personal acquaintances may also be professional or educational contacts in the international setting who have direct relevance to the program’s academic content. In such instances, the program leader may justify prudent exceptions.

Extended family members and personal acquaintances generally may not participate in academic or classroom activities or join program field trips and excursions. Their involvement can lead to misperceptions about the program’s academic integrity, financial complications regarding program and guest payments, and increased liability and risk management concerns for the program leader and the university. Under no circumstances should their participation create financial burdens or disadvantages for students or the program.

Visits from extended family members and personal acquaintances should ideally take place before or after the official program dates, during scheduled breaks (e.g., spring break), or on designated free weekends. Program leaders should be mindful that such visits during the academic portion of the program may contribute to the mistaken perception that study abroad programs are leisure trips rather than rigorous academic experiences.

Family members and personal acquaintances are not permitted to share living accommodations with university students.

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