The International Oversight Committee (IOC)
In alignment with UT System guidelines, UT San Antonio’s International Oversight Committee (IOC) reviews travel to locations with elevated risk levels as identified by the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, and other authoritative sources. The IOC evaluates travel requests to high‑risk regions and provides health and safety guidance to ensure compliance with university, state, and federal policies.
The committee’s primary role is to support safe and successful travel study, research, and other academic or extracurricular activities and may approve, deny, or recommend changes to travel plans.
Given the cost of airline flights, it is strongly recommended you submit travel requests at least 30 days before you plan to purchase airline tickets. Submit your request farther in advance if your trip requires Presidential approval.
In all cases, travel requests must be submitted on the Thursday before an IOC meeting so that your request can be pre-reviewed and we can ask clarifying questions if needed. Thorough responses to the travel request diminish the need for the Global team to follow up with additional questions.
All university travelers are obligated to seek approval for travel to a region with elevated risk if it is connected to your university role. For faculty, staff, and students, this obligation is independent of the source of funds paying for travel. For students, this obligation is not dependent on earning academic credit. If you are attending a conference, doing research, engaged with a registered student organization or any activity associated with being a student, your international travel is subject to this policy.
Noncompliance with IOC guidance may result in significant consequences. Students who do not comply with the IOC may lose their academic program funding or travel scholarship or may lose academic credit for their international activity. Faculty and staff who do not complete this process may not use university funds for travel and may not be eligible for future funds.
IOC Meeting Schedule, 2026
Dates may change.Your submission is reviewed prior to the IOC meeting. Submit requests on:
- March 12 for meeting on March 17
- March 26 for meeting on March 31
- April 9 for IOC meeting on April 14
- April 23 for IOC meeting on April 28
- May 7 for IOC meeting on May 12
- May 21 for IOC meeting on May 26
- June 4 for IOC meeting on June 9
- June 18 for IOC meeting on June 23
- July 2 for IOC meeting on July 7
- July 16 for IOC meeting on July 21
- July 30 for IOC meeting on August 4
- August 13 for IOC meeting on August 18
- August 27 for IOC meeting on September 1
- September 10 for IOC meeting on September 15
- October 8 for IOC meeting on October 13
- October 22 for IOC meeting on October 27
Contact the IOC
The Senior International Officer serves as the chair of the International Oversight Committee (IOC). If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Global Travel team:
Email: globaltravel@utsa.edu
Phone: (210) 458-7233
Our team is available to guide you through the requirements and help ensure your submission is complete.
IOC Travel Request Forms
The following forms are used by the International Oversight Committee (IOC) to review travel to restricted regions:
Individual travel
- Faculty and Staff: Faculty_Staff_restricted_regions_travel_request2023.pdf
Group travel
- UT San Antonio Led Program: Applies when a university employee leads a group of students abroad Faculty-Led_Restricted_Region_Travel_Request_1220.pdf
- Group Travel: Applies to small groups such as the SBDC team, research labs, or other professional delegations traveling together. Group_Travel_Restricted_Regions_Request22021.pdf
Submitting Your Documents to the IOC
Please note that each academic department may have its own procedures for routing documents and obtaining the required signatures from the Department Chair/Supervisor and Dean/VP/Unit Leader. It is the traveler’s responsibility to track the progress of their IOC forms, ensure all approvals are secured, and submit completed materials by the appropriate deadline.
All forms, supporting documents, and inquiries should be submitted to: globaltravel@utsa.edu
