Certification and Exceptions

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What are Certifications and Exceptions?

A Certification process has been established by GS&S for travel with a moderate level of risk assessed for a destination that, without an endorsed Certification, would not otherwise be a permitted destination for University Travel by certain travel populations. The purpose of the Certification process is to ensure that travelers are aware that one or more of their destinations may expose them to increased levels of health, safety, and/or security risks and to document the traveler’s attestation that their travel is feasible, University-related, and that they are aware of resources to better understand risks they could face. The Certification process captures endorsement of the proposed travel based on the traveler(s)’ population (undergraduate, graduate, faculty, staff).

Required Information and Actions: 

Note: “Traveler” may also refer to travel organizers as it relates to group travel or delegate travel enrollment

The traveler should review destination information and available resources to understand location risks. Travelers may access information and resource links through the Global Safety & Security section of the Princeton International website. 

The traveler must complete a Certification form, including: 

  • Traveler information, including University department/program/role. 

  • Travel details, including locality, country or area, and travel dates. 

  • Purpose of travel. 

  • Traveler attestations. 

  • Traveler signature. 

  • Signature obtained from appropriate University endorser. 

The traveler must upload completed, endorsed Certification form to their travel enrollment. 

Endorsers (by Traveler Population) 

TRAVELER POPULATION 

ENDORSER 

Undergraduate Students 

Academic: Office of International Programs 

Co-Curricular/Athletics: Campus Life Unit Head 

Graduate Students 

Department Chair, Program Director, or Dean 

Faculty 

Department Chair, Program Director, or Dean 

Staff 

Department Head, Program Director, Unit Head, or Supervisor 

External/Guest 

Department Head, Program Director, Unit Head, or Supervisor 

 

An Exception process has been established by GS&S for travel with a high level of risk assessed for a destination that, without an approved Exception, would not otherwise be a permitted destination for University Travel. The purpose of the Exception process is to consider requests for proposed University Travel to high-risk locations that have had the travel purpose endorsed at a Department or Program-level and that have had risks identified and mitigations developed by the traveler. As part of the Exception process, the GS&S team is responsible for completing an assessment of the proposed risk mitigations and making a recommendation to the University administrator responsible for approving or denying the Exception.

Required Information and Actions: 

Note: “Traveler” may also refer to travel organizers as it relates to group travel or delegate travel enrollment

Traveler should review destination information and available resources to understand location risks. Travelers may access information and resource links through the Global Safety & Security section of the Princeton International website. 

The traveler must complete an Exception form, including:

  • Traveler information, including University department/program/role. 

  • Travel details, including locality, country or area, and travel dates.

  • Purpose of travel. 

  • Traveler attestations.

  • Traveler signature. 

  • Signature obtained from appropriate University endorser.

  • Identified risks and risk mitigations

The traveler must submit the Exception form to globalsafety@princeton.edu. GS&S will then perform a residual risk assessment (assessment of hte risk that remains if proposed mitigations are implemented) and submit the form to the Exception Approver.

The Exception Approver is to return an approved or denied Exception directly to the traveler via email with globalsafety@princeton.edu copied.

The traveler must upload completed, approved Exception form to their travel enrollment.

Exception Approvers (by Traveler Population) 

TRAVELER POPULATION 

EXCEPTION APPROVER 

Undergraduate Students 

Academic: Dean of the College (incl. Study Abroad) 

Co-Curricular/Athletics: Vice President for Campus Life

Graduate Students 

Dean of the Graduate School 

Faculty 

Provost

Staff 

Provost

Certification and Exception Forms

If, based on the Requirements Matrices (contained in the Permitted Travel Policy), travel requires Certification or Exception, travelers must demonstrate they have a completed Certification or approved Exception by uploading a completed form in the travel enrollment's "Essential Content" tab. GS&S has developed two versions of the form: one for individual travel and one for group travel.