Texas Tech Partners with U.S. Department of State in Event To Help Protect Students AbroadBureau of Diplomatic SecurityWashington, DC September 21, 2008 Overseas Security Advisory Council Briefs Colleges and Universities on Student Safery and Security Texas Tech University and the U.S. Department of State's Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) co-hosted a Health, Safety, and Security Seminar today in an effort to help colleges and universities in Texas prepare students and faculty for their overseas experience. "Studying overseas can be a rewarding experience filled with life-long memories," stated Jackee Schools of the Overseas Security Advisory Council, which is part of the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security. "But a crisis, such as a criminal or terrorist attack, natural disaster, or health scare can be devastating, especially to a student in a foreign country and unfamiliar culture." Texas Tech Vice Provost Tibor Nagy, who served twice as Ambassador during his twenty plus years in Africa as a U.S. diplomat agrees: "As Ambassador, my primary concern was the safety and security of U.S. citizens in my country of responsibility, and that remains my highest priority in sending our students abroad. While an international experience is becoming essential for today's students who will work in a globalized world, vulnerabilities are also increasing and we need to be more predictive and proactive in countering them." According to a November 2007 report issued by the Institute of International Education, more than 223,000 American students participated in study abroad programs in 2005-06, including 8,900 students from universities in Texas. The safety of American students and academic institutions is very important to the State Department. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has tasked OSAC with the creation of the Health, Safety, and Security Seminar to assist university security advisors develop programs and methods to handle an emergency or crisis overseas. The seminar is presented several times a year throughout the country. Some of the issues to be discussed at Texas Tech University include:
"There are many steps that people can take ahead of time to prepare themselves for any health or safety issue in a foreign country. The State Department, through OSAC and the Bureau of Consular Affairs, offers a wide range of resources that are readily available to academic institutions," noted Schools. "We want to let universities in Texas know how we can help them." About OSAC With a constituency of more than 3,500 U.S. companies and other private-sector organizations with overseas interests, OSAC operates a Web site (www.osac.gov), which offers its members the latest in safety- and security-related information, public announcements, warden messages, travel advisories, significant anniversary dates, terrorist group profiles, country crime and safety reports, special topic reports, foreign press reports, and much more. The OSAC staff includes international security research specialists dedicated solely to serving the U.S. private sector. Additionally, OSAC has a network of 100 country councils around the world that brings together U.S. embassies and consulates with the local U.S. community to share security information. OSAC is co-chaired by the Director of the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and a selected representative of the private sector. The OSAC Executive Director is a Diplomatic Security Special Agent. For more information, please visit www.osac.gov. About The Bureau of Diplomatic Security The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the U.S. Department of State's law enforcement and security arm. The special agents, engineers, and security professionals of the Bureau are responsible for the security of 285 U.S. diplomatic missions around the world. In the United States, Diplomatic Security personnel protect the U.S. Secretary of State and high-ranking foreign dignitaries and officials visiting the United States, investigate passport and visa fraud, and conduct personnel security investigations. In 2007, DS participated in 1,955 arrests globally, primarily for passport and visa fraud, including 406 arrests overseas in cooperation with foreign police. Read more in the U.S. Department of State's Visa and Passport Security Strategic Plan at: http://www.state.gov/m/ds/rls/rpt/79895.htm. Additional information about the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security may be obtained at www.state.gov/m/ds. Contact: |
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