Risk Management Executive Committee (RMEC) Memorandum on International Travel

On March 10, 2026, the RMEC issued the following decision memorandum regarding university travel to certain high-risk destinations in the Middle East.

Download the official memorandum

Decision Memorandum

Risk Management Executive Committee (RMEC)
March 11, 2026

This memorandum announces the decision of RMEC at its March 10, 2026, meeting, prohibiting travel to certain high-risk countries in the Middle East Region.

Authority:  University Policies and Procedures Manual, chapter 95.53, section 9.0:

9.0 Travel to High-Risk Destinations

WSU’s Risk Management Executive Committee (RMEC) has authority to limit or prohibit travel to high-risk destinations (defined in Section 3.0) whenever it deems such travel to pose an unreasonable threat to health, safety, or security. See UPPM 10.70 (Policy on Risk Management). Subject to this authority, general requirements and limitations related to travel to high-risk destinations are set forth below.

Decision:  Due to the unreasonable threat to safety and security presented by the conflict in the Middle East initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran, and extending to countries in the Middle East where the United States has a military base, WSU business travel to the countries listed below by faculty, staff or students, is prohibited, unless a written waiver is granted by the RMEC or a subcommittee thereof.

High-risk destinations (U.S. State Department level 4 and level 3) to which Washington State University-related travel is prohibited: 

  1. Countries where conflict is focused:  Iran and Israel.
  2. Countries bordering Iran and/or Israel:  West Bank, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Georgia, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria.
  3. Countries in the Middle East where the US has a military base:  Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia.

Duration of Decision: This decision shall remain in place until modified or rescinded by the RMEC.

Waiver Process:

  1. Submit a written Request for Waiver of Travel Prohibition to compliance.risk@wsu.edu, at least 60 days before your travel dates. (If you have planned travel within 60 days of the date of this memorandum, submit the waiver request as soon as possible).
  2. Provide the country(ies) and regions thereof where you are requesting to travel, the duration of stay and where you will stay in each location, the purpose of your travel, why it is necessary to be there in-person, and how you plan to manage risk if your travel is approved.  
  3. The waiver request will be reviewed by the RMEC or a subcommittee thereof, within 2 weeks (14 days) of the date of receipt.