The University of Montreal has just released updated travel guidelines. These recommendations extend to faculty and staff members travelling to the U.S. for educational purposes. On Thursday, Rector Daniel Jutras made the new guidelines public. He was reacting to an alarming uptick of questions from the university community about future travel complications. This initiative comes after reports surfaced of individuals being detained or denied entry at the U.S. border in recent weeks.
The University of Montreal simply went all-in, passing sweeping policy guidelines in 2023. These guidelines are focused on international travel for scholars, researchers, and students. The policy aims to mitigate risks associated with factors such as health concerns or climate-related challenges in countries they travel to. With recent incidents at the U.S. border, the university felt compelled to reassure and guide its members on safe travel practices.
Federal guidelines also come with recommendations for students and staff to be careful when coming to the United States. Perhaps the main point of focus shown in the report is the issue of U.S. customs officers’ rights to examine electronic devices when someone enters the U.S. To protect their research data, the university is recommending that faculty and staff members make sure their personal devices don’t store sensitive academic data. Travelers should be advised to regularly update passwords that need to be provided to customs agents during searches.
The issuance of these guidelines underscores the University of Montreal’s commitment to addressing the concerns raised by its community members. The university’s preemptive activity increases the safety and security of its scholars. Most importantly, it shows a deep respect for them and a serious commitment to advancing their academic opportunities overseas.
