Clarifications on Essential Travel

On March 18, 2020, the President’s Office issued a travel ban stating, “All non-essential travel, including to neighbor islands, should be canceled. Exceptions will be granted under the authority of a UH Officer.”

While the college will comply with this directive, there may be some question as to what is considered essential. There are special circumstances where faculty or students may be required to perform highly justified, essential travel. It is necessary to obtain Provost approval before engaging in University- or research-related travel, so please send all justifications to the Dean to be forwarded to the Provost for consideration.

If students must travel inter-island to collect field samples, for example, the process to request exception would be to have the PI or major professor write a strong justification for the need to do the field work, such as that it is crucial to finish MS/PhD on time; it is a timed field event that has to be collected; it would delay graduation if the work were not done; it is a crucial problem threatening Hawai‘i ag or natural resources; or it is necessary to meet the requirements of the grant. Justification should also note that there is no other way that this work can be done and explain why and what arrangements are available if the person becomes sick while there (this is not an issue if it is a trip of only a day or two).

Send that justification to the Dean, and it will be forwarded to the Provost for consideration if the Dean determines that it meets the criteria.

Got a question? Email Adrienne at adrienne.lee@ctahr.hawaii.edu.