You should know
- The importance of your MU email account while studying abroad.
- The importance of having a communication plan with family members, MU and on-site contacts.
- Critical contacts to include for emergency information.
Before you leave the U.S., gather the following contact information for your host country and keep it with you at all times while you are abroad. Also leave copies of this information to your family/emergency contacts:
- Host country emergency services
- U.S. Embassy/Consulate (if you are not a U.S. citizen, then your home country’s embassy/consulate)
- On-site emergency contacts
- University of Missouri emergency contact information.
Establish a communication plan with your family, friends and on-site contacts. Agree on how quickly and the type of contact (email, phone, Facebook, etc.) you will have once you arrive in your host country. Waiting too long or forgetting may cause unnecessary stress and worry. In addition, establish communication expectations throughout your time abroad. Blogging, social media, and web and smartphone apps are all great ways to stay in touch with family and friends back home. Remember to be careful about spending too much time communicating with family and friends back home. You don’t want to miss out on great experiences in your host country!
It’s important that MU is able to get in contact with you quickly in the unlikely event of an emergency. Once you are abroad, be sure to add your host country address and phone number in your myStudyAbroad account. Check your MU email account regularly — this is the primary way Mizzou Study Abroad and MU will communicate with you while you are abroad. MU cannot send official communication to your private email account.
Review Mizzou technology abroad for information about multifactor authentication, VPN and eduroam internet access. If you will not have access to your U.S. phone number for multifactor authentication, you should set up an alternate form of authentication before you go abroad.